Loving the Marquess (Landing a Lord #1) by Suzanna Medeiros

RATING:

4 Out Of 5

REVIEW:

When Louisa Evan’s starts crawling into bed after a long day, she is stopped when she hears a knock at the door. After dragging herself away and opens the door to a man that is leaning against the door who says, “I require your assistance…”, as he is swaying and she manages to steady’s before he collapses…
When Nicholas Manning, The Marquess of Overlea, wakes the next morning with a pounding headache and is in an unfamiliar place, he can’t seem to remember where he was and realizes that he had an attack from is illness, the same one that killed his father and his older brother. After clearing the misunderstanding of what happened the night before with the woman the nursed him and introductions were made, he found out that she and her family are the ones that tricked their father out of there money and home, which left them in ruin…
Though Louisa doesn’t like to ask for help, she is in a difficult situation, she is about to lose her home, when her new landlord, Edward Manning, ups the rent or offers her an unscrupulous deal. But unable to figure out a solution, she goes and asks help from Nicholas…
Nicholas needs an heir, before the illness that runs through is family kills him. So when Louisa comes to ask for her help, he offers her to marry her and have her give him an heir. Though he waits until after they are married to tell her his plan that he is going to have another man father his heir…

When I read the synopsis for this book, I wasn’t sure what I to except. The concept of this Historical Romance was different and I got interested on how it would turn out. I enjoyed how there was a strong attraction between Louisa and Nicholas when they first met, though they didn’t act on it. I liked how Louisa was able to take the next step in going to Nicholas for help when she is used to doing and figuring out things for herself. I liked how Nicholas was able to overcome his plans and start getting to know Louisa, though there weren’t a lot of scenes, the ones they had was a great start to the development of their relationship.
Nicholas’ grandma was a great addition to the story. Though she was a little bit manipulative, it lead Nicholas to the decision to get married. And after he tells her he is marrying Louisa, she accepts her and her siblings with open arms and gets along with them.
Though they didn’t in depth about Catherine, Louisa’s baby sister, you do learn that she blames herself for her mother’s death after she died in child birth and then their fathers incident and is willing to do anything for Louisa and her brother John, though they don’t blame her at all. They did mention an attraction between her and Nicholas’ best friend, Lord Kerrick and it kind-of make me hopeful that they are the next main couple in the next book for the “Landing A Lord” series and if this is the case I look forward to see how their relationship grows.
After the wedding Louisa’s brother John leaves. Since his sisters were going to be taken care of and protected he decided he would do what he really wanted to do, but couldn’t since he was put in the position of man of the house. I really was hoping the author had put some mention of John by a letter to his sisters or something along those lines by the end of the book so you know how he was fairing , since after he left he is not mentioned anymore after that. All in all I really enjoyed the book. It had romance, suspense, and mystery.

How to Entice an Earl (Ugly Ducklings #3) by Manda Collins

RATING:

4 Out Of 5

REVIEW:

Lady Madeline Essex is not ready to get married yet, even though her cousins Cecily and Juliet have both found love with their husbands. Before she even the considers the idea of matrimony, she wants to write a novel before she takes that next step. Her novel is at the center of a Gaming Hell, so she decides to go to one to get information for her novel. After brow beating her brother, he takes her to Mrs. Baily’s Gaming Hell, where she runs into her cousin’s husbands friend, Colonel Lord Christian Monteith, the new Earl of Gresham…
Christian has undertaken a mission from his former commanding officer to investigate a gamester for espionage, who happens to be a friend of Maddie’s brother. Christian is informed that they will be attending Mrs. Bailey’s he decides to attend to see what information he can gather. So when Maddie enters Mrs. Bailey’s with her brother he is not surprised since they become acquainted since his friend, Lucas Dalton the Duke of Winterson courtship with her cousin Cecily, but that doesn’t stop him from taking her aside and scolding her for being there…
When a murder takes place and Maddie happens to be the one to find the body and discovers its her brother’s friend. After her brother is found to have left Mrs Baily’s, people are suspicious that he his involved. Maddie decides to find the murderer to clear her brothers name and since Christian was going to look into it since the person he was gathering in tel about turned up murdered decides to help Maddie and protect her from trouble. Now that they are thrown together, they now face this undeniable attraction for each other that can’t be denied. And Maddie wonders if it will turn into a love that her cousins have found with their husbands…
This was a great conclusion to the “Ugly Duckling” trilogy. I really liked Christian’s character. He was honest, protective of those who he considers friends and his family, and patient, though Maddie has a way of running his patience thin. And though he disagrees with Maddie’s ideas and plans, he knows he wouldn’t be able to talk her out of it and decides to make sure he is there to protect her just in case. I like the friendship he has with Winterson and Deveril, and it was fun to see how it developed throughout the trilogy.
I liked Maddie in the first two books. And though I still liked her character, some of the things that she did didn’t seem like it was something she would of done. Like her other cousins, she has a stubborn streak when she decides to do something. But unlike Cecily and Juliet, she didn’t seem really smart on how she went about to do things, which I didn’t really notice when she was mentioned in the other two books. It just didn’t seem like it was natural, but I guess it did have story flow without holding it up or having something added that didn’t make since so in the end it worked out.
I do like how in all the books that the author had all the couples, Winterson and Cecily, Juliet and Deveril, and in the end Maddie and Christian in them which made the story fun when they were in it. I enjoyed how at the end of this book that you even read how Amelia Snow, Cecily’s, Juliet’s, and Maddie’s arch-nemesis turn a new leaf and it makes me wonder if the author has a story planned for her. And in a way I think it would be fun to see how her character grows, from this trilogy and to her own story, and to see the man that would finally sweep her off her feet. I do hope if Ms. Collins does one, that she mentions these guys in it. ;o)

How to Romance a Rake (Ugly Ducklings #2) by Manda Collins

RATING:

4 Out Of 5

REVIEW:

After receiving a note from her friend and piano mentor, Mrs. Anna Turn, Miss Juliet Shelby, becomes distress at what happened to her friend. When Lord Alec Devenish, the Viscount of Deveril, comes upon her and sees her distress, he offers to help her find her friend. In her desperation, she agrees to allow his assistance, and in the process she tries to hide the feelings she has for him…
Alec is drawn to Juliet in a way he is quite unsure of. He has this urge to keep her protected and when he sees some of her mothers abuse towards her, he wants to keep her safe from her mother. After agreeing to help find Mrs. Turner, him and Juliet looks for clues to find her whereabouts. After both of them a thrown together, they are unable to deny the attraction that is between, though they both have secrets that they want to remain hidden from each other. After Alec discovers the plans her mother has in store for her, he offers to marry her and when she agrees, they find themselves on their way to Gretna Green to keep her safe from her mothers machinations…
This was a fun book to read, though I did enjoy its predecessor, “How To Dance With A Duke” a little better. As I was reading it, it just didn’t seem to have the same feeling to it, but it was still an enjoyable book to read.
Both Alec and Juliet grew up with a very domineering parent, that had some way left their mark on them. I loved reading how they both were able to overcome what they thought were fatal flaws, and they both helped each other to overcome it. I enjoyed how their relationship began as partnership that had developed into feelings for each other.
Though Cecily, Winterson, Maddie, and Montieth were mentioned in their story, they didn’t really have much involvement with Maddie and Deveril like they had in the first book of the series. I did enjoy however, how both Cecily and Maddie insisted on helping the gentleman save Juliet in the end and that the author still shown the girl’s stubborn nature of not leaving it just to the men.
The book was an enjoyable read, which did leave me wanting to read the book for Maddie and Montieth, so I can read what mischief they will all get into next and how this so far fun trilogy comes to an end.

 

How to Deceive a Duke by Lecia Cornwall

RATING:

4 Out Of 5

REVIEW:

Meg Lynton is about to undertake the ultimate deception. When her sister Rose runs away before her arranged marriage to Nicholas Hartley, Duke of Temberlay, better known to all through the scandal sheets as Devil, she takes it upon herself to take her sister’s place to save her family from destitution. So, she dawns a thick veil and steps in, and since the Duke has never met his intended bride she hopes that her deception won’t be figured out until all was said and done. But what is not known to those who know her is that she always was curious who the man is behind the scandalous stories written…
Nicholas never wanted to get married or have the responsibilities of the dukedom. But after Nicholas’ brother dies, he was forced to resign his commission in the army and become the next Duke of Temberlay. With the dukedom’s finances in dire straights he makes a deal with is grandmother, if she gives him the funds to use where it is needed, he will marry the woman of his grandmother’s choosing. When he sees his bride walking down the aisle with a thick veil he fears that she is must be hideous. But when she later removes the veil and he sees her face, he never expected her to be a very beautiful woman…
When I first started reading this book I didn’t know what to expect and I ended up really enjoying this book. When Meg’s deception was brought up, I was worried that it would be dragged out until the middle towards the end until Nicholas found out. I thought Nicholas’ reaction to the deception was genuine, and I enjoyed how they were able to resolve the situation after he dragged her back home. I really liked Meg’s and Nicholas’ relationship. Though they have a rocky start I liked how they decided to get to know each other and spend some time together and get to know each other.
I really liked Meg’s character. She was tough, spirited, and strong willed. It was understandable that it was hard for Meg to figure out her feelings for Nicholas given his reputation. I liked how she was able to discover Nicholas’ true character behind the man mentioned in the scandal sheets. I enjoyed how she was able to gain confidence in herself though she was always let down by her father when he referred to her as his Ugly Duckling out of all his daughters.
I thought Nicholas’ character was a welcome difference in comparison to other heroes of in books that I have read. I liked how he was loyal to his family even though he didn’t have the best relationship with his grandmother. I liked how you found out he is a true hero and that you find out he is nothing like what he is portrayed in the scandal sheets. I enjoyed how he actually mentioned to his last mistress that he is ready to be reformed. I enjoyed reading his character grow along with his relationship with Meg.
I wasn’t sure if Nicholas’ Grandmother would be a likeable character or not. I liked how the author kept me guessing until the last possible moment.
Meg’s family were interesting side characters. And I was happy that Rose wasn’t the main heroine. I think the author did a good job revealing her as a spoiled and having a high opinion of herself in the few scenes she is mentioned. I did enjoy the banter between Meg’s mom, Flora and her godfather and Uncle, Hector. I thought Hector had some funny one liners and enjoyed his scenes.
I didn’t much care for how those that were responsible for Nicholas’ brothers and Meg’s fathers death and financial ruin didn’t really get their full come up pence. I also didn’t like how the truth wasn’t revealed to those that were close to Nicholas that believed he was at fault for his brother’s death. And I think I would have like to have known what Nicholas actually decided to do about his grandmother. Other then that, all in all the book was really enjoyable to read.

Dancing with the Duke (Landing a Lord 0.5) by Suzanna Medeiros

RATING:

4 Out Of 5

REVIEW:

Alex, The Duke of Clarington is in the worst place possible… Almack’s at the beginning of the season, all do to a promise he made with his mother and sister to have one dance with his sister’s best friend, Charlotte, to launch her into society. Its been 7 years since Alex has last seen Charlotte Grant, who was gangly, always blushing around him, and stuttering every time she spoke to him. But when she is announced and walks in with his mother and sister, he doesn’t recognize the women standing there…
Charlotte has always been in love with Alex ever since she met him. Lack the confidence to make it known to him since she was but a teenager. But now that she was older she gains the confidence to finally see if she can get him to look her way, along with his sister’s help…

This was a good start to the “Landing a Lord” series. I always had a weakness’ stories when they new each other since they were younger and when the heroine has been in love with hero ever since. I really liked how after Alex realizes his feelings for Charlotte that he wanted to court her openly in society. And though Charlotte was a little fast in jumping to conclusions about situations that came up during their relationship progress, it added a touch of reality to the relationship when you think that she has been in love with Alex since she was 15 and who wouldn’t have some insecurities when things seem to good to be true.
I was a little disappointed that it was really short and I wished there was a little more to Alex and Charlotte story. I wished the author went into more detail about Alex’s friends and also had them a little bit more involved in the story. As well as Alex’s mother, and though Lucy, Alex’s sister, was a little bit more involved, after all she is Charlotte’s best friend and partner in crime.
For a novella, it was written really well. Though I wish there was more to their story, the author did a good job in having the story flow really well. She didn’t leave you hanging and have some areas dragging. All in all it was a good novella, and it has made me interested in the other books in the series.