Historical Love

All posts in the Historical Love category

Gentleman Seeks Bride: A Hazards of Dukes Novel(Review Post) by Megan Frampton

Published November 30, 2021 by bookbesties

In this delightful flip of a classic romance trope, Megan Frampton creates a handsome, witty, hero in need of a wealthy bride who meets his match in Lady Jane Capel, from A Wicked Bargain with the Duke. Perfect for fans of Sarah McLean, Tessa Dare, and Eloisa James.

“Strong heroines, sexy heroes, delicious stories. Make Megan Frampton your next read!” —Sarah MacLean, New York Times bestselling author

It’s a well-known fact that when a man is in search of a bride, a good dowry is never a hindrance.

Thomas Sharpe is handsome, well-bred, and desperately in need of a wealthy bride. His father has lost their income, his sister needs looking after, and so to save them all from a life of poverty he travels to London in search of an heiress.

Enter Lady Jane Capel. After her fiancé ended their engagement two years ago, Jane boldly left her parents’ home and moved in with her half-brother Percy. What does one more scandal matter to a family with such a curious reputation? Jane is independent, but not as well versed in life—and love—as she wants.

The two of them strike a deal: Thomas will show her all there is to know about the world —and intimacy—and Jane will help him find a bride. But the more time they spend together and the closer they get, the two of them soon realize that things aren’t so simple when it comes to men and women…

While this book is the first in the A Hazards of Dukes series that I have read, as you all know, it is not the first book or series I have read by this author. I have to say it, Megan Frampton has written another super fun read!! She has a way of creating characters who complement each other flawlessly, while putting them in environments and situations that allow them to shine as both individuals as well as a couple. These leading characters and this book are the perfect display of those skills.

Thomas Sharp is a well born gentleman without a penny to his name. Thanks to poor investments made by his father he is now responsible to save his family by marrying a wealthy heiress. This task should be as easy as a walk in the park for such a charming, good looking, gentleman as himself, right? Wrong! Two years into the task and he still has no prospects and the situation with his family has become desperate. Will no one see past his rakish ways and give him a chance to prove he will make a good husband?

Lady Jane Capel just wants to claim her life for her own and live it while she can. After her fiancé jilted her and her parents disowned her, she sought refuge from society living with her brother Percy. Now that she has healed her wounds she is determined to experience all the joys of life. To the point she makes a scandalous deal with her brother’s best friend, in the back room of a gaming club. Will he keep his end of the deal and show her all the things she has been missing?

I had so much fun reading this book and I can’t wait to read the rest of the series!

The Lady Gets Lucky by Joanna Shupe(Review Post)

Published November 2, 2021 by bookbesties

The Lady Gets Lucky (The Fifth Avenue Rebels, #2)

The Lady Gets Lucky by Joanna Shupe
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Book two in The Fifth Avenue Rebels series is even better than the first book! She brought together the two most unlikely characters from the Newport house party that set the scene for book one and not only created a mutual agreement that was guaranteed to generate chemistry she gave them an incredible HEA. I love Joanna Shupe’s books and I really hope we get more from this series as it really does seem to get better with each new book.
Wallflower heiress Alice Lusk is determined to do whatever it will take not to be forced into a marriage based on the size of her dowry. In an act of either desperation or genius- or maybe a little of both- she makes a deal with a well-known rogue who she is certain can teach her the skills she will need to seduce the type of husband she desires. All she needs to do to convince him to teach her is tap into her hidden talent for cooking and the training she has been secretly receiving from her family’s hotel chef, and not get caught by her mother.
Determined to make something for himself beyond his notorious “party- boy” reputation, Kit Ward is banking on the successful grand opening of his supper club to do just that. The only thing he is missing is a top-notch chef of highest renown to draw in the cream of the crop clientele he is aiming for. The last person he expected to find the help he needed from is the shy, over protected, wallflower Alice Lusk, who has a crazy idea for him to give her lessons in how to attract a man. Who knew she would prove to be not only great in the kitchen but equally as talented in her studies of invoking passion in men?

I enjoyed this book so much and can’t wait to read book number 3!!!

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Rules For Heiresses by Amalie Howard(Review Post)

Published November 2, 2021 by bookbesties

Born to a life of privilege, Lady Ravenna Huntley rues the day that she must marry. She’s refused dozens of suitors and cried off multiple betrothals, but running away – even if brash and foolhardy – is the only option left to secure her independence.

Lord Courtland Chase, grandson of the duke of Ashvale, was driven from England at the behest of his cruel stepmother. Scorned and shunned, he swore never to return to the land of his birth. But when a twist of bad luck throws a rebellious heiress into his arms at the very moment he finds out he’s the new duke, marriage is the only alternative to massive scandal.

Both are quick to deny it, but a wedding might be the only way out for each of them. And the attraction that burns between them makes Ravenna and Courtland wonder if it’ll truly only be a marriage of convenience after all.

Rules for Heiresses by Amalie Howard
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Amalie Howard is the queen of matching strong heroines with equally strong heroes. The dynamic romances she creates through environment, situations, and hot chemistry is what has me jumping on any and everything she writes. As you all know this book gives us the HEA for Lady Ravenna Huntly, who we met and fell in love with as Rystan’s rebellious younger sister and one of Sarani’s fiercest champions, in The Princess Stakes. We get to pick up her story just after where it left off in book 1 and from there we are taken on a wild adventure full of the sass, determination, and steamy romance we have come to crave from this author.
This is another book that gives a candid and raw look into the personal experience and effects being a “mixed- race” or bi-person of color can have on people. This time we see that it can affect men much the same as it does their more emotional female counter parts. As I said when I reviewed The Princess Stakes, I am going to say it again now….. BRAVO AMILIE!!! Thank you again, for being brave enough to shine a light on this subject. Your words continue to make me think, reevaluate, and evolve in the way I see things, and I deeply hope it does the same for EVERYONE else who reads these books. I profoundly feel that people need this kind of “safe” exposure for society to grow into a better future. Stories like this are vital in that effort.
Now on to the FUN part!
This heroine has a personality that is as fiery as her red hair and a streak of determination that runs so deep it could become one of her greatest faults. Guess it’s a good thing our hero is her long-lost childhood friend (who secretly has been in love with her like forever) and is the one who accused her of cheating in his club in Antigua. I can’t imagine how she would have been able to get out of the messy situation we find her in had it been anyone else. Caught in a scandalous position she trades one form of imprisonment for another when she is forced to “pretend” to be enamored with the man to whom she was once betrothed, to save herself from ruination. All she wanted was to live her life the way she chose and to experience freedom away from the strict rules of society.
Our hero has made an incredible life for himself despite being chased away from England by his stepfamily. The last thing he wants is to have to go back to England, become a Duke, or get involved with the one girl he has ever loved. It seems his entire past finally caught up to him the night we met him at the card table in his Antigua club. In a matter of hours, he went from threatening imprisonment to the man he suspects of cheating, to being found in a scandalous position with a woman he never thought he would see again, to finding out he is the new Duke of Ashvale. Will he turn his back on the past he has worked so hard to overcome or will he start a journey of healing and discovery by taking the first step and opening up to the one woman strong enough to stand by his side and break down his walls?

As I do with all books by this author I loved every second of this book and hope all of you do as well.

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Wilde Child by Eloisa James (Review Post)

Published March 31, 2021 by bookbesties

Eloisa James returns to the Wildes of Lindow Castle series with the next Wilde child who runs and joins a theatre troupe — and the duke who tries to save her reputation.

He wants a prim and proper duchess, not the Wildest of the Wildes!

Already notorious for the golden hair that proves her mother’s infidelity, Lady Joan can’t seem to avoid scandals, but her latest escapade may finally ruin her: she’s determined to perform the title role of a prince—in breeches, naturally.

She has the perfect model for an aristocratic male in mind: Thaddeus Erskine Shaw, Viscount Greywick, a man who scorned the very idea of marrying her.

Not that Joan would want such a dubious honor, of course.

For years, Thaddeus has avoided the one Wilde who shakes his composure, but he’s horrified when he grasps the danger Joan’s putting herself in. Staring into her defiant eyes, he makes the grim vow that he’ll keep her safe.

He strikes a bargain: after one performance, the lady must return to her father’s castle and marry one of three gentlemen whom he deems acceptable.

Not including him, of course.

Another member of one of our favorite families has found their perfect match! And Eloisa James has written yet another wonderful book. I loved this story just as much as the rest of the series, but Joan is by far my favorite of the Wilde women. I saw a lot of myself in her and it gave me a deeper appreciation for her tenacity and her general “devil may care” attitude when it comes to what the world thinks of her. The chemistry between Joan and Thaddeus is incredible. They are truly a perfect match up. He is rigid where she is wild, and she is open where he is closed off. Seeing how their friendship turns to romance and, helps them become their best selves is magical.

Joan Wilde is technically not a Wilde at all, she is the product of her mother’s infidelity. But don’t let her looks and lack of Wilde blood fool you. In all the ways that matter to the Duke and the rest of her family she is as much one of them as they are. However, society refuses to let her or any of their son’s forget that she is illegitimate. Having lived her whole life in the shadow of her scandalous origins she has grown a thick skin and a wicked sense of humor, one that has her on the verge of being expelled from polite society. Too bad she doesn’t care what ANY of them think, right? What happens if she makes friends with the most uptight member of society? Will she then care what they think, or will it be too late for it to make a difference?

Thaddeus Erskine Shaw, Viscount Greywick, is a close friend of the Wilde family, in fact he courted two of the Duke’s daughters before they fell in love and married their husbands. When he and his mother decided to travel to Lindow Castle for a visit with their friends the last thing he expected was to catch the one Wilde he isn’t friends with, in the process of trying to run a way and join a traveling theater troupe. Bound by honor and a duty to his friendship with the family he vows to go with her and keep her safe but only for one show and only if she returns to the castle after the show and settles down and marries one of the me, he chooses for her. Now saddled with helping her learn how to portray a man, including going out in public in breeches and fencing lessons, he has the opportunity to get to know her better and to understand why she constantly flirts with scandal and why her reputation doesn’t seem to matter to her. With understanding come acceptance. With acceptance comes letting down your carefully constructed guard and with that comes a friendship in a most unlikely place. Will she shake up his world and give him the chance to be more than a future duke? Will he be able to save her from her own self-destruction without risking his own?

I loved this series and this family so much. Even though it has been said this is the last of the series I really hope that is wrong and we get to see more from The Wildes of Lindow Castle.

The Heiress Hunt by Joanna Shupe(Review Post)

Published March 28, 2021 by bookbesties

High society reprobate.
An unconventional heiress.
Childhood friends.

Is it too late…
Knickerbocker scoundrel Harrison Archer returns to New York to discover that his deceased father has bankrupted his estranged family. To save them from ruin, he’s forced to quickly find and marry an heiress. For a matchmaker, Harrison turns to the one woman he wishes he could marry: his childhood friend and true love, Maddie, who once broke his heart and is now engaged to a duke.

For true love?
When her best friend Harrison left for Paris without a word, Maddie Webster took refuge in her infatuation with tennis. Now Harrison is back and needs her help in finding a bride. Begrudgingly, Maddie arranges a house party in Newport with a guest list of eligible heiresses. But watching Harrison flirt with potential brides is more than she can bear.

When Harrison and Maddie reunite, the passion between them ignites. But with their marriages to others looming, time is running out. Is their fate inescapable . . .or can love set them free?

Yeay!!!!! A new series by Joanna Shupe, I’m so excited!!!!! This is book one in The Fifth Avenue Rebels series and it’s a gorgeous way to start. I mean it! The characters, the setting, the romance… it really all is gorgeous. I love how even though I’m not a sports fan in any way other than tailgating and throwing sports themed parties this book made me want to go look up the history of women’s tennis when I finished reading it. Although the book is set in 1895, heroine’s passion for tennis reminded me of my dad’s mom, who loved tennis and take me with her to watch and be the ball girl when she would go play with her friends.

In fact I think one of the reasons I found this book so endearing is because I saw a lot of my grandmother in our leading lady. Both would do anything to help a friend in need, were devastated if they thought they did anything to hurt the ones they love, and both knew exactly what they expected and what they were willing to tolerate from the men they chose to marry. It was really nice reading this book and having my own personal sentimental connection to it.

Aside from that aspect I felt like the book had the perfect blend of darkness, warmth, realism, playfulness, and just enough heart break at all the right moments to keep readers on the edge of their seat and cheering for the HEA we all hope will come. I really enjoyed this book (for more than just my own sentimental value) and read it in one sitting. I can’t wait for October and book two!!!!

The Devil in Her Bed by Kerrigan Byrne(Review Post)

Published March 28, 2021 by bookbesties

The Devil in Her Bed is the final book in the stunning Devil You Know trilogy by USA Today bestselling author Kerrigan Byrne!

He lives in secret service to the Crown—a man of duty, deception, and an undeniable attraction to a woman who threatens to tear his whole world apart.

They call him the Devil of Dorset. He stands alone, a man of undeniable power. Moving in and out of shadows, back alleys and ballrooms, he is unstoppable and one of the Crown’s most dangerous weapons. However, when he sets his sights on the undeniably beautiful Countess of Mont Claire, Francesca Cavendish, he doesn’t realize that he has met a match like no other.

TRUE LOVE WEARS NO DISGUISE

Francesca is a countess by day and stalks her prey—those responsible for the death of her family—by night. What she does not expect is to be thrown into the path of the devil himself, the Earl of Devlin. She has secrets of her own and he seems determined to lay them bare. Can her heart survive finding the love of her life and losing him when all is revealed?

SUCH A GOOD BOOK!

Who doesn’t a love story of long lost childhood friends who are reunited after years apart? Throw in a few lies, some revenge, the murder of almost an entire family, and a sexy spy and you have a book I couldn’t put down. Kerrigan Byrne has a knack for writing stories about long lost soul-mates who seem to come back from the dead just to get their HEA and no lie…..I am a big fan. Like, these are the types of soul-deep connections and end all be all romances are what my wildest dreams are made of and I CANNOT GET ENOUGH.

Francesca Cavendish, Countess of Monte Claire will stop at nothing to avenge the murders of those she loved the most as a child. She has spent every day since she witnessed their deaths training and honing the skills she needs to insure her success and every night sacrificing her reputation to get the information that will finally lead her to whoever ordered the hit on her family. What does her reputation matter when the only boy she ever loved is dead? Besides, she doesn’t care what anyone thinks about her anyways, she has the love of her fellow Red Rouges, and they know the truth, and that along with her revenge is all that matters, right? Of course! Or so she thought…

Chandler, the Devil of Dorset, is one of the Crown’s most powerful spies. He is very good at what he does. So much so that people who have known him since he was a child don’t even recognize him when he dons one of his many disguises and assumes one of his various aliases. With no history, no close friends, and no family to trace he is untouchable. His weakness is he has no weakness. Or so he thought is until his latest mission brought him face to face with an obsession he just can’t shake.

This book was dark, exciting, and sexy, and made me swoon. I couldn’t put it down.

A Lady’s Formula for Love (The Secret Scientists of London Book 1) by Elizabeth Everett REVIEW POST

Published March 17, 2021 by bookbesties

What is a Victorian lady’s formula for love? Mix one brilliant noblewoman and her enigmatic protection officer. Add in a measure of danger and attraction. Heat over the warmth of humor and friendship, and the result is more than simple chemistry–it’s elemental.

Lady Violet is keeping secrets. First, she founded a clandestine sanctuary for England’s most brilliant female scientists. Second, she is using her genius on a confidential mission for the Crown. But the biggest secret of all? Her feelings for protection officer Arthur Kneland.

Solitary and reserved, Arthur learned the hard way to put duty first. But the more time he spends in the company of Violet and the eccentric club members, the more his best intentions go up in flames. Literally.

When a shadowy threat infiltrates Violet’s laboratories, endangering her life and her work, scientist and bodyguard will find all their theories put to the test–and learn that the most important discoveries are those of the heart.

Ok Besties, it is my pleasure to introduce you to break out author Elizabeth Everett. In this her first book we get to see her attention to detail in both building a multitude of characters but in the intricate ways they all interact with one another, and how each interaction is worked into the story line in ways that allow you grow to know the hero and heroine individually outside of their interactions. It was a unique experience and I really enjoyed it. I also was surprised that although this heroine is literally a damsel in distress, who our hero has been hired to safeguard, and not my typical cup of- sassy, independent, knows what she wants, bada$$ heroine- tea, I found myself championing her success and loving her all the same. What she lacks in self-confidence, poise, and cunning she makes up for in determination, goodwill, and intelligence and seriously those things combined give her a different kind of strength. A kind of quiet strength that I think the world needs to recognize more of, so bravo to this author for spotlighting it! This isn’t your typical historical romance in that the setting is a secret society for lady scientists and really, that alone was half of the fun of the book, you never knew when something would randomly explode or crawl out from under the door. Of course the other half of the excitement that makes this book such an enjoyable read is the romance that we see bloom between our damsel and her guardian. Watching as both characters discover their self-worth through their reflection in the other’s eyes and witnessing the amount of personal growth and discovery the connection between them allows warms my heart and brings a smile to my face every time I think about it. Lady Violet Greycliff and Authur Kneland perfect for each other and I am glad they get their HEA.

So with all that in mind I think it is safe to safe that I really liked this book, I am excited to see where this author’s career will take us, and I can’t wait to see what all of you think as well.

The Rakehell of Roth by Amalie Howard

Published February 6, 2021 by bookbesties

As owner of the most scandalous club in London, the last thing the notorious Marquess of Roth wants is a wife. Keeping up his false reputation as a rake brings in the clients with the deepest pockets—money he needs to fund a noble cause. Even though everything inside tells him not to leave his beautiful, innocent wife behind at his country estate…he must.

But three years later, tired of her scoundrel of a husband headlining the gossip rags, Lady Isobel Vance decides enough is enough. She is no longer a fragile kitten, but as the anonymous author of a women’s sexual advice column, she’s now a roaring tigress…and she can use her claws.

Isobel decides to go to him in London, channeling her powers of seduction to make him beg to take her back. But she didn’t expect her marauding marquess to be equally hard to resist. Now the game is on to see who will give in to the other first, with both sides determined like hell to win.

Each book in the Regency Rogues series is STANDALONE:
* The Beast of Beswick
* The Rakehell of Roth

Out 02/9/21

All right, all right, all right!!! Before you start book number 2 of Amalie Howard’s, The Regency
Rogues series you’re going to need a gallon of water close by. This book is so steamy it should come
with a Surgeon General’s Warning for dehydration. For real y’all! You know I normally try not to dwell
on the physically intimate parts of the story when I review a book, but when those moments are THIS
DANG HOT, I would be doing both you and the author a grave in justice by leaving it out of this review.
In this regard, this heroine is my absolute hero!
As I am sure you can all guess by now, I am the (self-proclaimed) President of the Amalie
Howard, Bada$$ Heroines Fan Club (not that such a fan club is really a thing, but it totally should be and
I nominate myself as President ;D ), that means that not only am I super greedy to get my hands on her
books but that I also have super high expectations for her heroines. No meek, biddable, wallflowers
allowed! So going into this book I will admit, I was slightly worried about how I would feel toward this
leading lady after meeting her in The Beast of Beswick. I should have known better than to worry
though, because while she starts out as the quiet, complacent, biddable wife once she reached her limit
and made up her mind to fight for what she wants, in true Amalie Howard Bada$$ Heroine form she is a
force to be reckoned with.
Lady Isobel Vance couldn’t help but be smitten with her extremely handsome new husband,
especially since her marriage to him had saved her from claws of the disgusting and disgraceful Earl of
Beaumont. After their wedding, on their journey to his country home she couldn’t wait to take her
place by his side as the Marchioness of Roth. How was she to know that he would leave her there,
alone, in the country, for three years, while he ran around London causing all manner of scandals? Well,
this “country mouse” has had enough! Armed with the theoretical education she received from the
infamous Lady Darcy, a crazy plan, the support of her best friends and her Father In-Law she charms all
of London, determined to bring her rakehell husband to heel. Will she unleash the tigress within and
win his heart in spite of his determination to push her away or will she be forced to admit defeat and
return to her quiet country life?
Winter Vance, Marquess of Roth, does not want to be married, especially since that is exactly
what his father the Duke of Kendrick wants. Matter of fact, if it wasn’t for the codicil holding hostage of
the rest of his inheritance unless he gets married before he turns 21, he would never get married. He
refuses to succumb to love and the fate that befell his beloved mother and sister. So while he would
concede to the codicil he wouldn’t let a wife, no matter how attractive she was, get in the way of his
notorious life. Thinking he had settled the matter by agreeing to marry the “quiet” and “dutiful”
younger sister of the Duchess of Beswick and abandoning her at his father’s estate far from London, the
last thing he expected was for his “country mouse” wife to show up three years later and take the
London social season by storm. Will he be able to maintain the walls he has built around his heart or
will her newly sharpened claws tear them down and leave him begging for more?
Obviously I loved this book and hope you do too and although I understand why you may feel
the need, please do not call 9-1-1 when this book sets you on fire.

The Princess and the Rogue: A Bow Street Bachelors Novel(Review Post)

Published December 29, 2020 by bookbesties

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?

This is the first book by this author that I have had the pleasure to read and review for all of you. I must tell you how delighted I am that even though this book is part of a series it 100% reads like a stand-alone. So much so that I didn’t realize it was part of a series until I looked at the cover page to make sure I spelled the author’s name correctly while writing this review. That being said I am really hopeful that we will get to share more of not only this series but this author with each other. Because this is one of those books where you fall in love with the heroine’s tenacity and will to survive on the first page, then find yourself sucking in your breath in anticipation of the perils she faces, knowing full well she is amazing and will doubtlessly pull through unscathed. This book has it all: a notorious and handsome rogue, a brothel, faithful friends, a terrible villain, suspense, and above all things true love that conquers even the most cynical of hearts. With that being said; I adored these characters, loved the way the author wrote their story, and from start to finish enjoyed this book immensely.

After the death of her brother, Russian, Princess Anastasia “Anya” Denisova found herself stranded in Paris and resorting to desperate measures to keep from being forced into a marriage with the abusive traitor, Count Vasili Petrov. After faking her own suicide and fleeing to England we find Anya living in Covent Garden, next to Mrs. Haye’s brothel and working as a part time companion to the Dowager Duchess of Winwick. Doing her best to maintain her new identity becomes impossible when Count Petrov not only comes to London circulating a story that he is looking for his lost fiancé but is spotted leaving Mrs. Haye’s. With help of her employer, who has become a dear friend and only one of two people in her new life who knows her true identity, she must go into hiding. It is decided, after a failed kidnapping attempt was made on her, that the safest place for her to lay low until Petrov returns to Russia is in the private residence rooms of Tricorn Club, under the protection of the Duchess’ nephew. Should she trust him with her true identity? Will he be able to keep her safe?

Sebastian Wolff, Earl of Mowbray, notorious rogue by night, partial Tricorn Club owner and Bow Street investigator by day, has been given an assignment; to investigate the possibility of a Russian spy who was giving information to Napoleon. Dedicated to his pursuit of the truth and his bachelor life he has no time for or belief in the idea of love, that is until a onetime meeting with a mysterious woman in a brothel who plagues his thoughts and dreams. Never thinking he would cross paths with her again she was the last person he expected to see when he set out to protect his great aunt while she traveled to their country home. After rescuing her from an attempting kidnapping and at his great aunts most ardent request, he takes on the task of protecting and hiding her from those who wish her ill. He knows she is hiding something from him and possibly his great aunt and while she is living under his roof he is determined to find out what it is. Conveniently, as he works to uncover her secrets he finds that not only is she beautiful, well mannered, and enchanting, but that she may just be his best lead in the investigation of the Russian spy. Will he uncover her secrets and what will he do with them if he does?

I really enjoyed this book and am excited to read more from this author and this series. Let me know what you think.

The Duke Effect (Rogue Files)(Review Post)

Published November 13, 2020 by bookbesties

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Sophie Jordan continues her bestselling Rogue Files series with this captivating romance that will thrill her many fans.

She doesn’t care about love…

Despite being surrounded by her happily wed sisters, Nora Langley prefers botany to ballrooms and would rather spend a lifetime in her laboratory than consider affairs of the heart. An expert herbalist, Nora has been masquerading as her late physician father for years, dispensing invaluable medical advice. She corresponds with people all over the world, including an old army colonel. But when the man shows up on her doorstep, he is nothing like she expected—he is a young, handsome heir to a dukedom who suddenly threatens everything she holds dear.

He only cares about duty…

Constantine Sinclair arrives on the Langley doorstep in a desperate bid to save the woman who raised him, the Duchess of Birchwood … only to discover that the venerable doctor he expected is a bold and lovely charlatan. Furious at the deception, he vows to reveal her secrets. Determined to prove her skills, Nora promises to save the duchess in exchange for Con keeping her secret. Con reluctantly agrees… and soon Nora’s brilliant, headstrong ways are throwing his carefully controlled life into chaos. What happens when the rigid soldier begins to lose his grip on his heart?

Book number 3 of Sophie Jordan’s Rogue Files series is wonderful! While it may be part of a series it absolutely can hold its own as a standalone. This series really shows how creative this author is because all three leading ladies are entirely different yet none of their individual characters is lacking. Each sister is unique and has been given a story that fits them perfectly in a way that shows how much love the author put
into each character.

This is a quality that has me jumping at the chance to read and share with all of you any book by Sophie Jordan that comes my way. I can only hope that we get one more book from this series where we get to meet the fourth Langley sibling, the girls’ younger brother who has been away at school throughout the entire series and whom we really know very little about. I would love to see how much each of his sisters’ unique traits have rubbed off on him as he grew into a man. This is Nora’s book and it is everything we hoped it would be! It had me gasping in indignation and holding my breath in anticipation on her behalf more than once. Naturally such a confident, self-assured, scientific-minded woman would need an equally strong and disciplined counterpart as well as a mystery illness and stacked odds to open her heart and mind to the ideas of love and romance as more than physiological topics to be studied.

Fortunately, that is exactly what we get with Con and this book. We get to see Nora blossom from self-isolating bluestocking to equality warrior to impassioned lover and it is a truly memorable journey all the way. Nora Langley is a practiced healer who would love nothing more than to go to medical school and become a doctor, unfortunately that’s not an option for women in England. But she isn’t going to let that stop her from her life’s work of helping and healing people. In fact, after her years of practicing and studying under her father, it is this drive to use her knowledge and skills to help people that has her maintain her father’s medical correspondences in his place after he passes.

Little did she think she would ever come face to face with one of those correspondences while living on her Brother In-law’s country estate, much less that he would threaten to expose her deception, no matter how many people she had helped. There is only one thing to do. Follow him, save the Duchess thus proving her skill, and convincing him not to ruin her reputation. Can she do it or will her ego have gotten her into a situation her cures can not fix? Constantine Sinclair is now the heir to the Duke of Birchwood. He owes everything to the Duke and Duchess and that is why he has ridden hard directly from London to find the doctor he has been
corresponding with or the last several years, a doctor who specializes in pain management and who he hopes will be able to figure out what is wrong with the Duchess and save her.

A doctor who he throughout the years he thought was his friend and whom he has shared personal things with. A doctor who he quickly discovers isn’t actually a doctor or even a man! Outraged he knows he must do what is right and return to London immediately, and expose the imposter for who she is to everyone he referred to her. He never expected her to follow him, or for her to scam her way into his house and dedicate herself to helping the Duchess, all just to prove that she is who she says she is. Can this charlatan be as good as she claims? Can he ever forgiver her deception and see her as the friend he thought he had? I loved this book and series and I really hope this wasn’t the final book so we get to meet the Langley
brother.