Rachel Ann Smith

Tempting a Lady
A Steamy Historical Romance Collection

Anthologies are a wonderful way to read authors I know will please me as well as read books of authors never read before. This book has nearly 2000 pages filled with romances by ten different authors. I need more time to finish all ten but wanted to share this review before doing so. I picked it up due to Tracy Sumner’s work – do love her stories – and look forward to reading the new-to-me authors as soon as I can.

Tracy Sumner’s THE ICE DUCHESS is the prequel to the Duchess Society Series and it swept into the past where I quickly fell in love with Georgiana and Dexter. These two were definitely soul mates, if such exist! They may have had a rough patch for a while but thankfully things came right for them in the end! I loved them, their story, and getting to spend time wit them…and look forward to reading their story again in the future.

Rachel Ann Smith’s contribution, DESIRES OF LADY ELISE, was a novella length romance that allowed Lady Elise, sister of the Duke of Fairmont and Harold, Ear of Thornston to see if they could get it right the second time as Elise’s brother put himself on the marriage mart. This was a quick read and a prequel to Agents of the Home Office. I am curious to find out who Lady L is and what this series might be about.

Did I enjoy the stories I read? Yes
Will I read more of the stories in the future? Definitely

Thank you to BookSirens for the ARC- This is my honest review.

4-5 Stars… (mehr)

Dancing with Desire

If you love historical romances, want to try some new authors, and want a nice collection of books in one volume to begin a few series with books already written to read next…this book might be just the on for you. I haven’t finished every book in the anthology but do plan to over time and have a feeling I will reread a few of them, too.

With a baker’s dozen books collected to choose from it is like having thirteen donuts and not knowing which tempting treat to bite into first. I loved some and immediately started reading the next in the series. Did I have a favorite? Perhaps…always love Tracy Sumner’s books, thoroughly enjoyed Suzanna Medeiros’s book, Darcy Burke’s story was a bit lighter hearted, and Amy Quinton’s book that I am currently reading has a wicked aunt and cousin that could be related to Cinderella’s stepmother and daughters.

Did I like this book? Yes
Who would I recommend it to? Anyone interested in trying a new author or two…or three
NOTE: On many vendors the book is FREE so do check it out!

Thank you to BookSirens for the ARC – This is my honest review.

5 Stars… (mehr)

Barbara’s rating: 3.5 of 5 Stars

Lord Walter Weathersbee, the third son of a marquess, has been in love with Henrietta, the daughter of a duke, for most of his life. He first met her when he was ten and lost in the woods, and by the time he was in his teen years, he was irrevocably, hopelessly, undeniably in love with her. That she was four years older made no difference to him – but it did to her and to society. So, when it was time for her come-out and a very good man fell in love with her, Walter stepped into the background and wished them well. He even befriended the man and they remained friends in secret. Walter never married because he never met anyone who could compare to Henrietta.

Henrietta’s family disowned her and totally cut her off when she chose to leave and marry a plain mister. She loved George Hadfield and she didn’t let her family’s reaction bother her – at least not too much. She and George were blissfully happy for several years, but he died young because of weak lungs. Henrietta threw herself into raising her two sons to be fine men and never took the time or opportunity to look around her or to rekindle any kind of social life. Now, however, her two sons are married and starting families of their own – one of them is even an earl. What is she to do with herself now?

Walter has long waited in the wings for Henrietta to resume her life. Now, he is ready to pursue a relationship of some sort with her – whatever relationship she’ll allow. Will her sons allow the relationship? Will Henrietta ever be ready for love again?

I like this author’s writing style – and I liked the premise of the story. So, why only 3.5 stars? Well, it is a purely personal thing and it may not bother you at all. However, it left me unfulfilled, unfinished, and unsatisfied. For me, it isn’t a romance without a HEA – and in my view, I didn’t get one. I don’t want to spoil the story for you, so I’m hesitant to tell you why I didn’t feel I got a HEA. However, to me, a HEA includes betrothals, weddings, happiness, sharing a home and family, love forever, etc. not what I got in this story. I just didn’t feel George got the HEA he so richly deserved and that made me sad. I was so looking forward to this book and reading a love match between two older, mature people and maybe even an epilogue four or five years into the future with all of her children and grandchildren along with Walter’s nephew’s family. I guess the bottom line for me is – the writing is good, but the story was unsatisfying.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.… (mehr)

This was a lovely read with wonderful characters and a delightful HEA. I think you could enjoy this as a standalone, but I think it would be more enjoyable if you know at least a little of the background. So, if you’ve read the previous series and the first book in this series, you can just skip down a paragraph or two. If you haven’t, I’ll just tell you a bit of the background. Now, you should understand that my poor attempt at summarizing it is nowhere near as good or exciting as reading those books.

In England, two secret organizations work with and for the crown. The first group is made up of three families in the aristocracy. They are the Protectors Of The Royal Family (PORF’s) and they undertake missions in protection and service of the Crown in whatever form is needed -- they root out traitors, etc. The other group, known as the Network, is made up of the serving classes and it is their job to protect and serve those who are protecting the Royal Family. The current series features the Hadfields as one of those aristocratic families. The first book in this series, Revealing a Rogue, features Landon Neale, Earl of Hadfield – who is the head of the aristocratic organization ** Giggles ** He’s the head PORF.

Christopher Neale, barrister, and brother to the Earl of Hadfield, is tired, tired, tired. Since his brother inherited an earldom, married, and assumed leadership of the group known as Protectors of the Royal Family, Christopher has had full responsibility for all of the work at the law offices. Now, his brother is prodding him, quite forcefully, to marry so he can assume a role in the PORF organization as well. Christopher has nothing against marriage, he just wants to marry for love – as his parents did – as his brother did. His problem is – he hasn’t found that one person who was made just for him. Well, he hadn’t until he was entering his brother’s home one day and this tiny slip of a female barreled past him down the steps. He couldn’t even see her, but every cell in his body was suddenly electrified. Oh! My! Goodness!

Emma Lennox’s mother is on the ruling council of the Network group and Emma will one day take her place. Emma has absolutely no use and definitely no trust in the aristocracy, but she’ll do all she can to serve the PORF organization. She doesn’t trust aristocrats because one took advantage of her sweet loving mother when she was just fourteen years old – and Emma is the result. Emma isn’t looking to marry although she is sure she will one day do so – today just isn’t that day. No man has ever made her feel the way she knows her mother and step-father do when they look at each other. Someday, she’ll find him. But there was that encounter on the Earl of Hadfield’s steps – every hair on her body stood on end. What could have caused that?

It was a lovely romance with Christopher focusing on Emma right away and then having to work to convince her they are meant to be together. In her world, she just can’t see that happening – she is a modiste and he is the brother of an earl – like oil and water, they don’t mix. It was fun to watch Emma’s barriers come down as she and Christopher headed toward their own HEA.

I enjoyed this book and would happily read it again. We had happy visits from characters featured in other books – and, of course, Christopher’s mother who will be featured in the next book along with Lord Weathersbee who we met in this book. Happy reading!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.… (mehr)