Sophie Reads YA: February 2023

ARC Review: Only Mostly Devastated by Sophie Gonzales

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2023 New Release challenge

ARC Review: The Duke's Secret Cinderella (Never a Wallflower #3) by Eva Devon

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The Duke's Secret Cinderella
Series: Never a Wallflower #3
Author: Eva Devon
Published February 21st 2023 by Entangled: Amara

Goodreads Synopsis
Cinderella meets Ever After in this witty and lively historical romance from USA Today bestseller Eva Devon.

Charlotte Browne could just kick herself. What on earth possessed her to tell the Duke of Rockford that she is a lady? But something about the duke’s handsomeness and kind intelligence makes Charlotte blurt out the teeniest, tiniest falsehood. Now it’s too late to admit she’s just plain Charlotte of no particular importance—with cinder-stained hands, a wretched stepfather, and no prospects for marriage….

Rafe Dorchester, Duke of Rockford, has done what every self-respecting duke must do—avoid marriage at all costs. But the only thing stronger than the duke is his mother., Wheand she lays down the highest ultimatum, he’ll need to find a duchess. Immediately. Only, when he calls on a potential bride, he instead finds the pert, fresh-faced Lady Charlotte. Rafe was warned to never mix the business of marriage with pleasure, but when it comes to Lady Charlotte…oh, business would be a splendid pleasure.
Goodreads

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

After a chance meeting with the Duke of Rockford, Charlotte Browne is shocked to find he is seeking her out, and wants to spend more time with her. Living as a servant in her stepfather's home, she is not the right type of person for a duke, unlike her stepsister Francesca. Even so, Rafe wants to know more about Charlotte, though he thinks she is Francesca's cousin, and a Lady in her own right too. Charlotte's stepfather will do whatever it takes to keep the pair apart, but Rafe is determined that he loves Charlotte, and will fight for her, no matter what.

I obviously knew this would be a Cinderella retelling, but I wasn't expecting it to be so engrossing. Charlotte's stepfather has treated her as little more than a slave since she was young and her mother died. She is Francesca's ladies maid, as well as a general servant, and he has ruined her family home. While trying to free her fellow servant and father figure from prison - in which her stepfather had placed him - Charlotte finds Rafe, and the pair connect over their mutual search for good. Rafe is shocked to find Charlotte in the home of the one lady his mother thinks he should marry, but it's perfect. I did think that some of the twists and turns were a little too outlandish, but the romance was great, and I loved the ending. Another great addition to the Never a Wallflower series!

Dates Read:
January 19-20, 2023

Rating
4 Stars

February

Stacking the Shelves: February 25th 2023

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2022 New Release challenge

ARC Review: One Night with the Duke (Belmore Square #1) by Jodi Ellen Malpas

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One Night with the Duke
Series: Belmore Square #1
Author: Jodi Ellen Malpas
Published August 18th 2022 by Orion

Goodreads Synopsis
It's 1814 and nineteen‑year‑old Eliza Melrose is about to be launched into London's high society—much to her dismay. The last thing she wants is a husband.

Eliza's “misplaced' thirst for adventure, knowledge and the creative word is a bone of contention for her father, who battles endlessly to keep her curiosity and ambitions in check, for women are not meant to ask questions or give opinions in matters of business.

But then she meets the youngest son of the late Duke of Chester, a disgraced nobleman who is shrouded in mystery and proving quite impossible to resist...
Goodreads

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

Eliza Melrose knows that her parents want her to marry, and care only that she is their entry into society. However, she has no intention of finding a husband, and would rather spend more time writing articles for her father's newspaper, and investigating the mystery surrounding the new Duke of Chester. But her family's sudden rise in fortune is not without a price, and Eliza discovers that she is the key to them retaining their position in society.

I adore Regency romances, that won't surprise people who regularly see my reviews. I initially saw the cover for One Night with the Duke and the synopsis which drew me in, but I found the story lacking at times. Eliza was such a feisty and headstrong character, but she didn't really fit well with the story. I liked that she was enterprising, and though she wasn't able to publish articles under her own name, she and her brother plotted together to allow her words to be printed. I also felt that the chemistry between her and Johnny was the part of the story which kept it going. They were great for each other, and though they butted heads at times, the respect for each other was perfect! I will say that the ending of the story was a plus, and I may read the other books in the series when they are released, because the mystery surrounding the Chester family has only just been touched.

Dates Read:
October 18-20, 2022

Rating
3 Stars

2023 New Release challenge

Review: The Agency for Scandal by Laura Wood

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The Agency for Scandal
Series: None
Author: Laura Wood
Published January 5th 2023 by Scholastic

Goodreads Synopsis
An all-female detective agency righting wrongs at the end of the nineteenth century; infiltrating a scandalous upper class world straight out of Bridgerton and using their wit and bravery to unmask a villain. Eighteen-year-old Isobel Stanhope is keeping a lot of secrets. There's the fact that she's head over heels in love with a Duke who doesn't know she exists; there's the fact that her family is penniless but nobody in society knows about it; and then there's her job at the Aviary, an investigative agency run by women that specializes in digging up scandal on powerful men. When Izzy finds herself pulled into a case that involves gaslighting, blackmail, and missing jewels, as well as the Duke who holds her heart, can she and her friends untangle the web of secrets and lies to uncover the truth and protect the innocent? And when the stakes are so high, what happens when the crush she's been hiding begins to turn into so much more?
Goodreads

Review
Isobel Stanhope realised that life was short and full of bad turns. When her father died, leaving the family destitute, she had to do whatever it took to keep the truth from her young brother, and her mother, and return the family to its former standing. Joining the Aviary, and finding a place for herself in the world which doesn't respect her, was the dream, but even so, it's dangerous. Soon she finds herself embroiled in a scandal, and needs to work with the handsome Max Vane, Duke of Roxton. As they discover more about the villain, they find they are drawn to one another, and will risk it all to save each other. But can it work out, or is their case too much to handle?

I simply love Regency/Victorian stories, and there's very few YA ones. So as soon as I heard about The Agency for Scandal I knew it was a book I needed. From the very first page, I was hooked. Izzy was an amazing main character, and her growth over the course of the book was immense. She was out, and taking part in the Season, but because of her family situation, she didn't expect that marriage was in her cards. Especially not with what she had seen in some of her cases. Being beholden to a man, who could literally be your ruin, or your death, is abhorrent to her, and she would never want to find herself in a similar situation. I liked how Max was so oblivious to start off with, though he was a spy, to the wider world. He blindly followed his mentor, and had to be forced to see the truth. He had also been keeping a close eye on Izzy, though didn't even want to admit it to himself. The time the pair spent in Yorkshire was hilarious, and I loved that they were able to be honest and open to each other. I know this book is a standalone, but I really hope that Laura will delve into this world, and these characters, again!

Dates Read:
February 14-16, 2023

Rating
4 Stars

Sophie Jordan

Waiting On Wednesday: The Countess (The Scandalous Ladies of London #1) by Sophie Jordan

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Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week's pick is:

The Countess
Series: The Scandalous Ladies of London #1
Author: Sophie Jordan
Published March 28th 2023 by Avon Books

Goodreads Summary

New York Times bestselling author Sophie Jordan kicks off her amazing new high concept series, The Scandalous Ladies of London, which chronicles the lives of a group of affluent ladies reigning over glittering, Regency-era London, vying for position in the hierarchy of the ton. They are the young wives, widows, and daughters of London’s wealthiest families. The drama is big, the money runs deep, and the shade is real. Life is different in the ton.

“My husband is a good man… just ask all the women he has bedded.”

Wealthy society maven Lady Gertrude knows how the world works. If her husband is less than faithful, it’s an acceptable price to pay for her coveted position at the apex of London’s most fashionable set. No exclusive soirée or lavish ball is complete without her and her group of decadent, well-connected friends. And this Season promises more excitement than usual: Tru is launching her daughter into Society, helping her navigate the cutthroat Marriage Mart, complete with fortune hunters, jealous debutantes, and malicious gossips.

As skilled as Tru is at playing the high-stakes games of the ton, she never expects to meet her match—until Jasper Thorne begins to court her daughter. Jasper needs a titled bride, but when he meets Tru, all his carefully laid plans go up in smoke. The attraction between Tru and Jasper is undeniable…and unacceptable. To indulge in an affair with her daughter’s suitor would be ruinous. If it becomes public, she’ll never survive the scandal. Especially as it becomes clear that he wants more than one night…he wants the impossible. He wants forever.

A sizzling story of scandalous ladies, irresistible temptation, and the dangers—and joys—of being true to yourself.

Goodreads

Why I'm waiting:

I will read any and every book that Sophie releases, and this one will be no different!

Are you waiting for this book? Have you already read it? Let me know :)

2022 Beat the Backlist challenge

ARC Review: The Wrong Side of Kai by Estelle Maskame

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The Wrong Side of Kai
Series: None
Author: Estelle Maskame
Published September 19th 2019 by Black & White Publishing

Goodreads Synopsis
Vanessa Murphy doesn't do relationships.

With a father who doesn't notice her, it's easy for her to sneak around with her latest fling, Harrison Boyd. But when an explicit video of Vanessa hooking up with Harrison is leaked the morning after she ends things with him, her life is thrown into chaos.

And Vanessa wants payback. Enter Kai. With his own vendetta against Harrison, Kai proposes revenge, and the two pair up to ruin Harrison Boyd's life. At first, they are nothing more than an illicit partnership. Teammates working towards the same mission.

But – between late-night stakeouts and crime committing – Vanessa is drawn into Kai's life. And, as the two grow closer, she finds herself letting Kai into hers.
Goodreads

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

After an explicit video is spread of Vanessa Murphy with her latest fling, Harrison, Vanessa is out for revenge. She doesn't do relationships, and is very sex positive, but having her private images leaked is a betrayal, and when Kai appears, and seems to have his own vendetta against Harrison, Vanessa is ready to team up. But as the stakes hot up, and their petty actions turn into real crimes, will Vanessa regret meeting Kai?

I've read most of Estelle's books now, and though I enjoyed The Wrong Side of Kai, it definitely was not my favourite of hers. Vanessa was quite an immature character at times. She lost her mother when she was younger, and her father is absent most of the time, so she seeks out attention in different ways, including with finding a new partner regularly. She's very body positive and confident, but I felt like there were definite times in the book when she acted very young, and made easily resolved mistakes. I did like the chemistry between her and Kai, but think it should've been less of an instant attraction, and taken a little longer for them to fall for one another. This definitely isn't a lighthearted book though. It covers very important and hard hitting topics, particularly around slut shaming, online harassment, and grief, and I think it would be a great read for anyone.

Dates Read:
March 30-31, 2022

Rating
4 Stars