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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!!!!

Someone to Romance by Mary Balogh (The Westcott Series Book ) Review Post

Published August 25, 2020 by bookbesties

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Love comes when you least expect it in this captivating new novel in the Westcott Regency romance series from New York Times bestselling author Mary Balogh.

Lady Jessica Archer lost interest in the glittering excitement of romance after her cousin and dearest friend, Abigail, was rejected by the ton when her father was revealed to be a bigamist. Now that she is twenty-five, however, Jessica decides it is time to wed. Though she no longer believes she will find true love, she is still very eligible. She is, after all, the sister of Avery Archer, Duke of Netherby.

Jessica considers the many qualified gentlemen who court her. But then she meets the mysterious Gabriel Thorne, who has returned to England from the New World to claim an equally mysterious inheritance. Jessica considers him completely unsuitable, especially when, while they are still barely acquainted, he announces his intention to wed her.

When Jessica guesses who Gabriel really is, however, and watches the lengths to which he will go in order to protect those who rely upon him, she is drawn to his cause–and to the man.

Grab the Westcott Series HERE

I am so addicted to this series, I need it to never end! I love these characters, this family, and this book. I absolutely adore how strong and independent Jessica is, all while she embraces her life as a prominent Lady of society and without compromising her new found sense of self. After making the decision to marry this season with or without love, her steadfast refusal to be viewed as simply a title with proper training has endeared her to my heart forever. I’m so very glad that the author wasn’t afraid to allow Jessica to have and acknowledge her darker feelings of jealousy, betrayal, and being left behind (all of which are natural, once you know her back story) rather than setting the time line of the book ahead far enough that it could be assumed she had moved past them. Seeing that facet of a character’s personality truly makes them stand out in my eyes. In a series such as this, with so many characters it is Mary Balogh’s ability to make each one unique that keeps readers coming back for more.

Lady Jessica Archer, daughter of the Duke of Netherby, is determined that this is the season she will really look for a husband. Sure she has had several admirers through the years but none of them have ever stirred romantic feelings in her heart. Ready to cut her losses she is prepared to view the issue as a business arrangement rather than one based on love, or so she thought until a good-looking stranger tells her he intends to marry her without even knowing more than just her name and tile. It is in that instance that she discovers how much she truly desires a romantic match and is unwilling to settle for less. Will the stranger heed her words and be able to romance her to the alter, or will the season’s charming new comer win her hand?

Gabriel Thorne, born Gabriel Rochford, the presumed dead Earl of Lyndale, has returned from the grave (well actually from America) to claim his title and find a countess. Not just any countess, but one who has poise, grace, and the training to help him run his estate. Only one woman checks off all the boxes on his list of requirements and he will do whatever it takes to make her his bride. Much to his surprise when he tells her of his intentions she gives him a piece of her mind and tells him he needs to romance her before she will even entertain the idea. Will he be able to show her the romance she needs to convince her to marry him, or will his family drama and another suitor chase her away?

Another great addition to the Wescott Novel series that I hope you all enjoy as much as I did.

BookBesties.com copy

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Would I Lie to the Duke: Union of the Rakes (The Union of the Rakes Book 2) Review Post

Published July 29, 2020 by bookbesties

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When an ambitious entrepreneur pretends to be a lady of means, she catches the eye—and heart—of a duke…

Jessica McGale’s family business desperately needs investors and she’s determined to succeed at any cost. But she knows London’s elite will never look twice at a humble farm girl like herself. Posing as “Lady Whitfield,” however, places her in the orbit of wealthy, powerful people—most notably the Duke of Rotherby. His influence and support could save her company, but Jess never expected the effect he’d have on her.

Society thinks Noel is a notorious, carefree duke who dabbles in investments, but there’s a side to him that only his closest friends see. When he crosses paths with Lady Whitfield at a business bazaar, his world tilts on its axis. She’s brilliant and compelling, and brings him to his knees like no woman has before. Trust is difficult for Noel, but Jess makes him believe anything is possible. . .

As time ticks down on her Cinderella scheme, the thought of achieving her goal at Noel’s expense breaks Jess’s heart. He doesn’t just want her now, he wants her forever. But will her secret end their future before it begins

When an ambitious entrepreneur pretends to be a lady of means, she catches the eye—and heart—of a duke…

OUT NOW!!!! Grab Your Copy HERE

Book number 2 of The Union of the Rakes series was such a fun read! The characters are very charming and have everything I have come to expect from Eva Leigh’s leading couples. I love how even though this book is part of a series it can 100% stand alone. This book follows the story of a young lady’s companion as she fights to save her family business. She has determination, drive, and brains, now if only she had an investor. Her search for that investor leads her to the Marquess of Trask’s Bazaar and the very handsome Duke of Rotherby. Willing to do anything to save McGale & McGale Soap she risks it all to gain entry to the Bazaar. Will her risks pay off or will her truth be discovered causing her to lose it all? Jessica McGale, lady’s companion to Lady Catherton, made a promise to her mother on her deathbed that she would take care of her siblings and make the family business a success. That was before a fire destroyed 1/3 of the farm and her plans for expansion. Her role as lady’s companion takes her to London where she is determined to use the limited amount of time she has to find the investor she desperately needs to save their business.

After being turned down by every shop owner on Bond Street she reaches a new level of desperation. Her last hope is the Marquess of Trask’s Bazaar, an exclusive event where business owners present their business or their product in front of a select group of investors. But presentations are by invitation only and she hasn’t been invited. To gain entry she will dress in Lady Catherton’s clothes and pretend to be an investor and find a way to pitch her business to the Bazaar. The last thing she needs is to be distracted by an incredibly handsome Duke. Will she be able to hold it all together and save her business or will she be discovered and lose it all? Noel Edwards, Lord Clair, Duke of Rotherby, is known for his sound investments, financial prowess, and his rogue lifestyle. Although he has more money than he will ever need he makes it a point attend the Marquess of Trask’s annual investor Bazaar if for no other reason than to use his wealth to positively influence London’s fiscal future.

Days before the Bazaar he encounters the most intriguing woman on Bond Street, a woman who didn’t just agree with him because he is a Duke, but was able to defend his opinion on a matter of finance. Unable to get her off his mind, the last place he expected to see her again was as an investor at the Bazaar. He is determined to get to know her better and to win her over. Little does he know that her game of cat and mouse is not an attempt to play hard to get but really her determination to stay focused on business at hand. Will he lose his heart to her or will her true identity be too much for him to see past?

I liked this book so much and it was such a joy to read! I hope you all like it as much as I did.

BookBesties.com copy

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Devil of Downtown by Joanna Shupe(Review Post)

Published June 30, 2020 by bookbesties

51a5RwcD+jL (1) “Nothing makes me happier than a new book from Joanna Shupe!”―Sarah MacLean

The final novel in Joanna Shupe’s critically acclaimed Uptown Girl series about a beautiful do-gooder who must decide if she can team up with one of New York’s brashest criminals without losing something irreplaceable: her heart.

Manhattan kingpin.
Brilliant mastermind.
Gentleman gangster.

He’s built a wall around his heart…

Orphaned and abandoned on the Bowery’s mean streets, Jack Mulligan survived on strength, cunning, and ambition. Now he rules his territory better than any politician or copper ever could. He didn’t get here by being soft. But in uptown do-gooder Justine Greene―the very definition of an iron fist in a velvet glove―Jack may have met his match.

She wears hers on her sleeve…

Justine is devoted to tracking down deadbeat husbands and fighting for fair working conditions. When her mission brings her face-to-face with Jack, she’s shocked to find the man behind the criminal empire is considerably more charming and honorable than many “gentlemen” she knows.

Forming an unlikely alliance, they discover an unexpected desire. And when Justine’s past catches up with them, Jack may be her only hope of survival. Is she ready to make a deal with the devil…?

OUT NOW!!!

Catch the whole Uptown Girls series HERE!

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Joanna Shupe has done it again! Another amazing book that is a great closing to her Uptown Girls series. As you all know this series follows the Greene sisters as they buck tradition and forge their own ways and find love in the streets of New York. Three sisters, three books, each one with their own unique personality and story. These leading ladies are inspirational. They are game changers and social justice warriors and I love them equally for it. The men who win over their hearts are equally as endearing and work to make change in the world right along with the women they love. I adore this book and LOVE this series, and am sad it has ended but I cannot wait to see what adventures the next series will bring.

Justine, the youngest Greene sister is just as courageous, independent, and driven as her older sisters. But as the quiet, plain, and sensible sister, they refuse to see it. It doesn’t matter that through her work, for the Lower East Side Legal Aid Society, she goes in to some of the most dangerous parts of New York to face down wife deserters who don’t want to be found and factory owners who maintain poor working conditions, most times completely alone. It’s on one of her investigations that she finds her way to the office of crime boss Jack Mulligan. She needs Mr. Mulligan’s help and in order to get it she makes a deal with the devil that will change her life.

Jack Mulligan is an intimidating, good looking, powerful man who is used to getting what he wants without question from anyone who crosses his path. The youngest Greene sister is not his usual type, not like her stunning older sisters, but her fiery passion for justice sets her a-glow, add to that the fact that she refuses to succumb to his charms nor his intimidation tactics and he just may have met his match. He was shocked and aroused when she, “downtown’s notorious do-gooder” laughed in his face after coming to his office asking for help with one of his men. Of course he will help her, but he doesn’t do anything for anyone without a price, and now he wants to see just how far the do-gooder will go to get what she wants. He finds himself drawn to her and will use any means at his disposal to keep her close. Will he win her over or will he lose everything trying?

Again I am inspired by these characters, loved this series, and adored this book and I hope you do too.

BookBesties.com copy

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Daring and the Duke by Sarah MacLean(Review Post)

Published June 30, 2020 by bookbesties

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New York Times bestselling author Sarah MacLean returns with the much-anticipated final book in her Bareknuckle Bastards series, featuring a scoundrel duke and the powerful woman who brings him to his knees.

Grace Condry has spent a lifetime running from her past. Betrayed as a child by her only love and raised on the streets, she now hides in plain sight as queen of London’s darkest corners. Grace has a sharp mind and a powerful right hook and has never met an enemy she could not best…until the man she once loved returns.

Single-minded and ruthless, Ewan, Duke of Marwick, has spent a decade searching for the woman he never stopped loving. A long-ago gamble may have lost her forever, but Ewan will go to any lengths to win Grace back…and make her his duchess.

Reconciliation is the last thing Grace desires. Unable to forgive the past, she vows to take her revenge. But revenge requires keeping Ewan close, and soon her enemy seems to be something else altogether—something she can’t resist, even as he threatens the world she’s built, the life she’s claimed…and the heart she swore he’d never steal again.

OUT NOW!!!!!

HOLY INCREDIBLE ENDING TO A SERIES, BATMAN!!!

I thought I loved the first 2 books in The Bareknuckle Bastards series but WOW this one takes it to a completely different level! You wanna talk about my weakness for strong leading ladies? Sarah MacLean’s Grace/Dahlia has completely brought me to heel. I am so enamored with this incredibly strong, powerful, self-made woman who is the queen of her world that I don’t know how I am going to come to terms with this being the last book in the series. I think I am still kind of in denial about it. Such an incredible heroine requires an equally incredible story to show case everything that makes her so amazing and this book with its darkness, plot twists, and unexpected romance leaves nothing behind.

Grace “Dahlia” Condry rules the darkest streets of Covent Gardens from 72 Shelton Street, her very successful, “high-end”, secret ladies club. She literally fought to build her current life and her success while being hunted by the demons of her past. Now that she rules her world she is ready to take revenge for the betrayal that left her and her brothers alone, scarred, and hiding in the rough streets of London as children. Ewan broke her heart now she will break his soul. Can she be so lucky as to finally be rid of the boy who was her first love turned man who is her worst enemy? Or will keeping her enemy close change her mind about pushing him away?

Since the death of his evil father, Ewan, Duke of Marwick has been madly hunting for the girl he gave his heart to as a child. The girl, he sacrificed everything to keep safe. The girl, who he would do anything, even destroy his own brothers, to have back in his life. The girl, who is the only person in the world who could shatter his soul with her words and cause him to remake himself in the attempt to be worthy of her. Grace, the only girl, the only person, he will ever love. Every decision he has made since meeting her has been for her. He is determined to get the chance to explain what happened that night and to show her he is not the monster she thinks he is. Will he be able to remake himself and finally regain her trust? Will she believe his side of the story and know he would never hurt her? Will everything he has done for be in vain?

I don’t have words to describe how much I love this book. I can’t wait to see what all of you think as well.

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Danielle

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Marry in Scarlet: A Marriage of Convenience By Ann Gracie

Published May 28, 2020 by bookbesties

51PNrZ00nDL A marriage born of passion and scandal turns into something more from the bestselling author of Marry in Secret.

When a duke denied . . .

The proud and arrogant Duke of Everingham is determined to secure a marriage of convenience with heiress, Lady Georgiana Rutherford. He’s the biggest prize on the London marriage mart, pursued by young unmarried ladies and their match-making mamas, as well as married women with a wandering eye. He can have any woman he wants. Or so he thinks. . .

…Hunts an independent lady . . .

Lady Georgiana Rutherford–irreverent and unconventional–has no plans to marry. Having grown up poor, Lady George has no intention of giving up her fortune to become dependent on the dubious and unreliable goodwill of a man. Especially a man as insufferable as the Duke of Everingham, whose kisses stirs unwelcome and unsettling emotions . . .

…Sparks are sure to fly

The more she defies him, the more the duke wants her, until an argument at a ball spirals into a passionate embrace. Caught in a compromising position, the duke announces their betrothal. George is furious and when gossip claims she deliberately entrapped the duke–when she was the one who was trapped–she marches down the aisle in a scarlet wedding dress. But the unlikely bride and groom may have found love in the most improbable of places–a marriage of convenience.

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Heck yeah for a take no ish heroine!!!! This is my favorite book by Anne Gracie yet!
This heroine knows what she wants out of life and refuses to give up her dreams for anyone, no matter how hard they try to convince her otherwise. She is probably my favorite heroine of the year. Of course, Anne Gracie has given her an equally incredible story that is perfect for both leading characters. If you are looking for a book that will keep you on your toes and laughing out loud then look no further!
Lady Georgiana “George” Rutherford is new to having a family and to London society,
but that doesn’t mean she will let either force her into a life she doesn’t want. If only she could make her Aunt Agatha and the number of would be suitors who won’t take “no” for an answer understand. It’s nothing personal. She just never, EVER wants to get married! She wants to live a quiet life in the country with her dog, raising horses. Is that too much to ask for? Besides, even if she was interested in taking a husband the last man, she would consider would be the cold, hard Duke of Everingham, who’s very better-than-everyone existence irritates her to the bone. The only thing she wants and intends to do with the Duke of Everingham is give him the proper set down his over inflated ego desperately needs, or is it? After Redmond Jasper Hartley “Hart”, the fifth Duke of Everingham was jilted at the alter by Lady Rose Rutherford the last thing he was expecting was to be offered her niece as a consolation prize. Hart is tired of ambitious ladies, their families and the games they are all playing to try to trap him into marriage. This last offer by Lady Agatha Salter, was the worst play yet, trying to convince him that the niece she offered him has no interest in getting married thus making her his ideal match. All ladies want to get married. Who does she think she is fooling? He remembers Lady Georgiana from time spent with his former fiancé, and while she is attractive that and her supposed aversion to marriage isn’t enough to pique his interest. However, her magnificent horse and her sassy mouth just might be the keys to turning his head.

I LOVE THIS HEROINE!!!!!!!

I am sure you will love her and her book too!

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