Sophie Reads YA

Stacking the Shelves: February 27th 2021

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2020 Beat the Backlist challenge

Review: One Night in London (The Truth About the Duke #1) by Caroline Linden

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One Night in London
Series: The Truth About the Duke #1
Author: Caroline Linden
Published August 30th 2011 by Avon

Goodreads Synopsis
A bargain that was all business . . . and pure passion.

Neither wealth nor beauty will help Lady Francesca Gordon win custody of her young niece Georgina, saving the girl from a cruel stepmother; she needs London’s top solicitor for that. But when Edward de Lacey, son of the powerful Duke of Durham, hires away the one man who can do the job, Francesca decides Edward himself must champion her case . . . if only she can melt the dashing lord’s stony heart.

Edward has reason to be guarded, though. London’s tabloids have just exposed a secret that could ruin his entire family. When Francesca offers a unique chance to undo the damage, Edward is forced to agree to a partnership . . . and now, each moment together feeds the flames of his scandalous longing for the passionate widow. But when Georgina disappears, fate will test them both . . . and leave their love hanging in the balance.
Goodreads

Review
In One Night in London, widowed Lady Francesca Gordon is trying to find her niece and win custody of her, after her father died and she was left with her stepmother. She's had no hope down any avenue, and with the top London solicitor on her side, she might just manage to be successful. Unfortunately, as soon as she get's the attention of the solicitor, he is hired by a more illustrious client, Edward de Lacey, son of the late Duke of Durham. Francesca is incensed, and storms to Edawrd's home to force him to help her in any way he can. Edward's had a difficult few weeks. First, his father died, so of course he's grieving, but then it was revealed that when the late Duke was young, he had a marriage to a young lady who then disappeared, and when he married his duchess, Edward's mother, he might still have been married. Now Edward and his two brothers, including the new Duke, might all be disinherited, and they need to keep the scandal as secret as possible. Francesca is an unwanted distraction, but when she helps Edward out with a gossip columnist, he is in her debt, and they form an unusual partnership. Will both of them manage to get what they want, without losing their hearts at the same time?

I recently read another of Caroline's books, About a Rogue, and decided to give this one a go when my local library reopened. I loved the way that Francesca had power and autonomy over her life, as a widow, and wasn't phased by people who thought she should be somewhat different, or remarry, because she was young and wealthy. All she cared about was her niece, her last family member, and the one she should be caring for, and wouldn't let the pesky issue of her being a lady get in the way of the judicial system. Her interactions with everyone she came across was wonderful, and especially the banter and chemistry between her and Edward. Edward, as the third son of a Duke, had a privileged life, but wasn't the heir, nor was he for the military. He trained as a sort of steward for his father, so was an integral part of the Durham dukedom, and his father's death was a real blow. Really, if he had been the heir, it might've been better, but his eldest brother was a bit of a drunken deadbeat, and Edward was left with all the hassle of trying to solve the problem they were facing. He's engaged, but when the rumours start circulating about his questionable heritage, he's publicly dumped, and it's a blow because he truly cared for his ex-fiancee. Francesca is someone he wouldn't normal be around, but she brings him out of his shell, and helps him get through his issues, and they were amazing together. I loved the ending of the book, and have ordered the other two books in the series to discover what happens with Edward's brothers, and the Durham Dilemma. Caroline is quickly becoming a favourite author of mine!

Dates Read:

August 17-19, 2020

Rating
4 Stars

2019 New Release challenge

Review: The Hummingbird Dagger by Cindy Anstey

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The Hummingbird Dagger
Series: None
Author: Cindy Anstey
Published April 16th 2019 by Swoon Reads

Goodreads Synopsis
1833. After young Lord James Ellerby witnesses a near-fatal carriage accident on the outskirts of his estate, he doesn't think twice about bringing the young woman injured in the wreck to his family's manor to recuperate. But then she finally regains consciousness only to find that she has no memory of who she is or where she belongs.

Beth, as she takes to calling herself, is an enigma even to herself. She has the rough hands of a servant, but the bearing and apparent education of a lady. Her only clue to her identity is a gruesome recurring nightmare about a hummingbird dripping blood from its steel beak.

With the help of James and his sister, Caroline, Beth slowly begins to unravel the mystery behind her identity and the sinister circumstances that brought her to their door. But the dangerous secrets they discover in doing so could have deadly ramifications reaching the highest tiers of London society.
Goodreads

Review
The Hummingbird Dagger is a mystery surrounding Beth, who is found on the outskirts of Lord James Ellerby's estate, after an accident with absolutely no memory of who she is (even her name is unknown, but she likes Beth), or how she got there. James and his sister Caroline, want to help Beth, and know from observations that while she has hands that a servant might have, she by all means appears to be a lady. Her one memory is that of a bloodstained hummingbird dagger, and using that as a means of discovering who Beth really is could lead all three of them into a dangerous situation.

Cindy's books have always been favourites of mine, but this one takes the prize of my most favourite! From the get go, I was hooked, and every page had me gasping or in shock, and I needed to read it as fast as possible to find out more. Beth's character was wonderful, and even with her amnesia, she was feisty though somewhat vulnerable, and doesn't want to see by while there's a mystery out there. When she is taken in by the Ellerby's, she becomes close to them all, and James is smart and sensitive, and the perfect hero for Beth. Their romance is the slowest of slow burns, to the extent that it was almost painful, but as they relied on each other and got to know one another, we saw the romance blossom and bloom naturally. The secondary characters of Caroline, Walter and his Henry, were all true characters too, with their own tales and characteristics, and really added to the story. Some of the plot lines were a little too out there, but I was left guessing at what would happen next. Cindy has retained her spot on my auto buy list, and I can't wait for my pre-order of Deadly Curious to arrive!

Dates Read:

May 4-5, 2019

Rating
5 Stars

Eloisa James

Waiting on Wednesday: Wilde Child (The Wildes of Lindow Castle #6) by Eloisa James

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2021 New Release challenge

ARC Review: You Have a Match by Emma Lord

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4 Stars

ARC Review: The Spinster and the Rake (Never a Wallflower #1) by Eva Devon

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The Spinster and the Rake
Series: Never a Wallflower #1
Author: Eva Devon
Published February 9th 2021 by Entangled: Amara

Goodreads Synopsis
The marriage game is afoot in this clever blend of My Fair Lady meets Pride and Prejudice with a twist!

Edward Stanhope, the icy Duke of Thornfield, likes his life in a certain order. Give him a strong drink, a good book, and his dog for company, and he’s content. But when he goes to his library and finds a woman sitting in his chair, petting his dog, what starts as a request for her to leave quickly turns to a fiery battle of wits, leading to a steamy kiss that could ruin them both if they were caught.

So of course, damn it all, that’s when Edward’s aunt walks in, and thereafter announces Miss Georgiana Bly is the future Duchess of Thornfield.

Georgiana was content to be a spinster, spending her days reading and working to keep her family out of debt. But now her days are spent locked away with a growly duke, learning how to be the perfect duchess, and her nights spent fighting the undeniable attraction to a man who was never meant for her.

As their wedding day approaches, the attraction between them burns hot and fierce, but is it enough to melt the duke’s chilly facade?
Goodreads

Review
I received an Advance Reader Copy from the publisher via NetGalley. This in no way impacted on my view.

Miss Georgiana Bly is more at home in a library than on a dance floor, but her propensity to hide soon finds her in hot water when she is seen embracing Edward Stanhope, the icy Duke of Thornfield, in his private library. Now they are forced to marry, lest her and her family are ruined. For Edward, he knows he should marry, if only to beget an heir, but he hates being in company, and when his solitude is broken. Georgiana is as far away from the perfect duchess as you could find, but Edward, and his Aunt Agatha, must work together to support her, and she might just turn out to be the making of Edward, after all.

This book just blew me away, and I could not put it down as soon as I started it. I hated even clicked on about the Pride and Prejudice reference when I first read the synopsis, but thinking back to the plot, I can see that link. Georgiana is from a genteel family in Yorkshire, but they don't have any connections, and it's only really luck they happen to be at the Duke of Thornfield's ball. She is a lovely character, who faces some difficulty in her transition to Duchess, but she is strong, and her caring nature allows her to blow off all naysayers, and even melt Edward's icy heart. Their relationship was swoony, from near strangers when they met - and kissed - to slowly getting to know each other's history, and what makes them tick. I loved Edward too, who lost his parents when he was young, and had been treated abominably by his nurse and tutors for his behaviour - I think he may be on the autistic spectrum - and really felt ill at ease when with near strangers. He pushed against Georgiana's attempts to learn more, at first, but soon softened, and it was then it was clear they really loved each other. Yes, there are some moments of angst - a la Lydia and Wickham's elopement, but not quite, and I can't wait to read more from this author.

Dates Read:
December 29, 2020

Rating
4 Stars