Review: Lady Bridget's Diary by Maya Rodale

Summary:

Lord Darcy is the quintessential Englishman: wealthy, titled, impossibly proper, and horrified that a pack of Americans has inherited one of England's most respected dukedoms. But his manners, his infamous self-restraint, and his better judgment fly out the window when he finds himself with the maddening American girl next door.

Lady Bridget Cavendish has grand—but thwarted—plans to become a Perfect Lady and take the haute ton by storm. In her diary, Bridget records her disastrous attempts to assimilate into London high society, her adoration of the handsome rogue next door, her disdain for the Dreadful Lord Darcy, and some truly scandalous secrets that could ruin them all.

It was loathing at first sight for Lady Bridget and Lord Darcy. But their paths keep crossing . . . and somehow involve kissing. When Lady Bridget's diary goes missing, both Darcy and Bridget must decide what matters most of all—a sterling reputation or a perfectly imperfect love.

Publication Date: January 26, 2016

I adored this book! Gah, I’m such a sucker for anything remotely related to Pride & Prejudice and Lady Bridget’s Diary is no exception. The story contained both familiar plot elements from both Bridget Jones’s Diary and Pride and Prejudice.

I’ve read Maya Rodale’s historical novels and I always fall in love with the characters. Bridget and her American siblings all captured my heart and I hope Rodale plans to give them their own novels. Bridget is just like her inspiration from Helen Fielding’s books. She’s plucky and silly and speaks exactly what’s on her mind. She’s the opposite of stoic, serious Darcy and she hates him on sight. But despite her loathing, she can’t seem to escape their electrifying chemistry.

This book is such a sweet, fun tale that you won’t help, but smile throughout it. Darcy becomes the hero he’s meant to be and Bridget opens up her eyes and starts to see that she has judged him too harshly. Her diary entries were amusing, but also offers insight into just how stifling Regency society could be. There was definitely a predictability as far as the plot, but it didn’t make me stop giggling or swooning one bit. I’d highly recommend the novel to fans of historical romances set during the Regency era.

Rating: 5/5 Stars

Thanks to the publisher for a copy of the novel for review!

Review: Winning Miss Wakefield by Vivienne Lorret

Summary:

She's got nothing left to lose…

With her fiancé suddenly engaged to another and her reputation in tatters, Merribeth Wakefield needs a bold plan to reclaim her life. She must be brave. Confident. She must … kiss a rake? The suggestion is ludicrous! Yet when Merribeth finds herself alone with the dark and brooding Lord Knightswold, suddenly the plan doesn't seem so farfetched. So she does something she never thought she'd do—she kisses him.

But he has everything to gain…

The Marquess of Knightswold—Bane to most—has no use for the affections of women. Well, none lasting longer than a single night. A plot for revenge weighs heavy on his mind, leaving no room for romance. But then a shy, witty miss borrows a kiss from him in a darkened room, and everything he thought he knew about innocent debutantes vanishes along with her.

When a twist of fate brings Merribeth within Bane's grasp, he'll have to resist her charms—or risk losing everything—for the sake of his heart.

Publication Date: June 10, 2014

I loved Winning Miss Wakefield! What a great story with characters I fell in love with from the very first pages. Bane was such a tortured soul, I just wanted to reach through the book and shake him. I loved how he changed after a chance meeting with Merribeth. The two of them had serious chemistry.

Books like Winning Miss Wakefield are the reason I kick myself for not reading more historical romances. I was hooked from the beginning and enjoyed everything about the novel: the setting, the characters, the pace. Everything just worked in the book and I couldn’t wait to see if Merribeth and Bane would get their happily ever after.

Merribeth has the best transformation over the course of the book. She starts off as a mopey and heartbroken character who can’t seem to get over the fact her pseudo fiancé has fallen in love with another. But when she meets Bane, she starts to realize that what she had before with her fiancé was not love.

Bane’s single drive is for revenge. He hates his dead grandfather so much for his family’s mistreatment that he vows to never marry and never have any children. He wants his family name to die with him. I felt for Bane as he must decide if revenge is more important than love.

I loved the back and forth between Bane and Merribeth. They obviously love each other, but their issues keep them from making it work. Besides Bane’s revenge plans and Merribeth’s former fiancé, the couple must face the scheming of Bane’s aunt. I actually didn’t like the aunt character at all and didn’t get the bets between her and Bane. The bets seemed like a convenient plot device to move things along.

I can’t wait to read more from the author! Fans of historical romances should definitely pick up a copy today.

Rating: 4.5/5 Stars

Thanks to the publisher for a copy of the novel for review!

Review: What a Wallflower Wants by Maya Rodale

Summary:

In the third novel in Maya Rodale's charming Wallflower series, London's Least Likely to Be Caught in a Compromising Position finds temptation in a devilishly handsome stranger . . .

Miss Prudence Merryweather Payton has a secret.

Everyone knows that she's the only graduate from her finishing school to remain unwed on her fourth season—but no one knows why. With her romantic illusions shattered after being compromised against her will, Prudence accepts a proposal even though her betrothed is not exactly a knight in shining armor. When he cowardly pushes her out of their stagecoach to divert a highwayman, she vows never to trust another man again.

John Roark, Viscount Castleton, is nobody's hero.

He's a blue-eyed charmer with a mysterious past and ambitious plans for his future—that do not include a wife. When he finds himself stranded at a country inn with a captivating young woman, a delicate dance of seduction ensues. He knows he should keep his distance. And he definitely shouldn't start falling in love with her.

When Prudence's dark past comes back to haunt her, John must protect her—even though he risks revealing his own secrets that could destroy his future.

Publication Date: September 30, 2014

The books in the Bad Boys & Wallflowers series have been very enjoyable historical romances to read. Although What a Wallflower Wants wasn’t my favorites of the series, I still liked Prue’s story. The book was much darker than the previous novels and some of the plotlines were tough to stomach.

Prue has been through a lot, but she still has a lot of fight in her. She has a tough side to her, but also a very fragile side. She is trying her best to figure out the ideal circumstances for a woman in her situation while being stranded at an inn with John—a viscount with his own secrets.

John was great. He was very sweet and gentle with Prue. After what Prue has gone through, I think an alpha type of male lead would’ve had her running for the hills. Their relationship moves very slowly to give Prue time to realize that not all men are like the man she refers to as The Beast.

The pace would’ve been better without so many flashbacks. Some of the flashbacks were purposeful to the story while others not so much. My only other complaint was after the severe trauma of Prue’s past, I would’ve hoped for more emotional resonance to come through.

Overall, a good book that explores how difficult it was for women to handle sexual assault in the regency era.

Rating: 3.5/5 Stars

Thanks to the publisher for a copy of the novel for review!

Review: Wallflower Gone Wild by Maya Rodale

Goodreads Summary:

Being good has worked out very badly for Lady Olivia Archer. All she has to show for four seasons on the marriage mart is the nickname Prissy Missy. Her prospects are so bleak that her parents have betrothed her to a stranger with a dire reputation. If Phinneas Cole—aka The Mad Baron—wants a biddable bride, perhaps Olivia can frighten him off by breaking every ladylike rule.

Phinn has admired Olivia’s poise and refinement from afar…qualities that appear to have vanished now that they are officially engaged. This Olivia is flirtatious, provocative, and wickedly irresistible. She’s not at all the woman he bargained for, yet she’s the only one he wants.

He’s determined to woo her. She’s determined to resist. But Olivia is discovering there’s nothing so appealing as a fiancé who’s mad, bad, and dangerously seductive…

Publication Date: March 25, 2014

Wallflower Gone Wild was such a cute read! I adored the love interest Phinn and I really liked that he wasn’t a typical historical romance hero. I also enjoyed the humor in the novel that came about over a series of misunderstandings.

I liked Olivia and I could emphasize with how hard she had it with her overbearing mother. There were a few times I wanted to reach through the book and slap Lady Archer over the ridiculous expectations she placed on her daughter. The way Olivia went about getting out of the marriage to the man her parents had chosen led to some hilarious over the top moments.

Phinn was great. Although the rouges and rakes in historical romances are usually swoon-worthy, I liked that Phinn was a nice guy despite the gossip about him. He had a science nerd quality to him that made him oblivious about certain things, like how to win a woman. There was plenty of hilarity when he took (bad) romantic advice from his friend Lord Rogan.

The romance is slow-building which I love in historical fiction. By the end, the heat began to build between Olivia and Phinn and I loved how they both learned to alter their perceptions of one another to make their relationship work. I’d recommend the Wallflower Gone Wild to fans of light and fluffy historical romances.

Rating: 4.5/5 Stars

Thanks to the publisher for a copy of this novel for review!

Review: Romancing the Duke by Tessa Dare

Goodreads Summary:

In the first in Tessa Dare's captivating Castles Ever After series, a mysterious fortress is the setting for an unlikely love . . .

As the daughter of a famed author, Isolde Ophelia Goodnight grew up on tales of brave knights and fair maidens. She never doubted romance would be in her future, too. The storybooks offered endless possibilities.

And as she grew older, Izzy crossed them off. One by one by one.

Ugly duckling turned swan?
Abducted by handsome highwayman?
Rescued from drudgery by charming prince?

No, no, and… Heh.

Now Izzy’s given up yearning for romance. She’ll settle for a roof over her head. What fairy tales are left over for an impoverished twenty-six year-old woman who’s never even been kissed?

This one.

Publication Date: January 28, 2014

I seldom read historical romances, which is funny since I tend to love them when I do. Romancing the Duke was no different and I really enjoyed the author’s humor and wit during the course of the story.

Izzy was a super protagonist and I loved her “can do” spirit. Izzy faced a lot of obstacles in her life and I loved how she never let those problems get in the way of her making the most out of any situation. Ransom was a great contrast to Izzy: dark, brooding and lonely. He tries to push Izzy away time and time again, but she never lets him bowl her over.

The best thing about Romancing the Duke was how funny it was. There were so many parts that I couldn’t stop giggling as I read. The fandom of The Goodnight Tales was a fantastic way for the author to provide comic relief. The characters definitely came across as sexually liberated for the time period, but I didn’t mind it because it helped turn up the heat between the two.

Romancing the Duke was a sweet and light read with a memorable cast of characters. The secondary characters were also wonderful with standouts that included Miss Pellham and Izzy’s pet ermine. I’m a fan of romances where characters don’t fall instantly in love with one another and I liked how the love aspect was slow building.

Highly recommend to fans of comical historical romances.

Rating: 5/5 Stars