Sophie Reads YA: March 2023

March Summary

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2023 Beat the Backlist challenge

ARC Review: How to Woo a Wallflower (Society's Most Scandalous #1) by Virginia Heath

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How to Woo a Wallflower
Series: Society's Most Scandalous #1
Author: Virginia Heath
Published August 23rd 2022 by Harlequin Historical

Goodreads Synopsis
An entertaining, sexy Regency romance

He could have any deb

Except his best friend’s sister…

Jasper, the Earl of Beaufort, hasn’t seen Lady Harriet Fitzroy since her serious riding accident. She has grown into a kind, spirited woman, whose sinful smile plays havoc with his jaded emotions! Hattie’s family disapprove of Jasper’s rakish past, but when she risks her reputation to help him, the least he can do is pull her from the wallflower chairs and out of the shadows…
Goodreads

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

After a horrific riding accident left her injured, Lady Harriet Fitzroy isn't about to let anything stop her. She was told she would never walk again, but though she has a limp, she proved everyone wrong, and has become a spirited young woman, always ready to help others. Jasper, the Earl of Beaufort, hasn't seen his friend's younger sister since before the accident, but is shocked to see what a beautiful woman she has become. Her family doesn't agree with his reputation, but she won't let that stop her, and risks her own reputation to help him find a wife. Little does she know, though, that he's already found the woman he wants to be with.

I really liked this book. Harriet was such a feisty character, who didn't care for the Season, or finding a husband, but would rather spend her time at the hospital helping others in situations like she had been in. She was lucky that she had a caring and loving family to support her through her recovery, but many in London do not. A self proclaimed wallflower, Harriet spends her time on the sides of ballrooms, though when Jasper arrives home, he puts an end to it. I loved their growth as friends, and then partners. Jasper unexpectedly finds himself the father of a young child, and though he knows that it will cause scandal, he is ready for the world to know his daughter, and doesn't want to hide her away. I really found this to be a great romance, and I hope to read the others in the series soon!

Dates Read:
February 21, 2023

Rating
3 Stars

India Holton

Waiting On Wednesday: The Secret Service of Tea and Treason (Dangerous Damsels #3) by India Holton

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2022 Beat the Backlist challenge

ARC Review: The State of Grace by Rachael Lucas

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2023 New Release challenge

ARC Review: What Happens in the Ballroom (Designing Debutantes #2) by Sabrina Jeffries

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What Happens in the Ballroom
Series: Designing Debutantes #2
Author: Sabrina Jeffries
Published March 28th 2023 by Zebra

Goodreads Synopsis
New York Times bestselling author Sabrina Jeffries brings a fresh new hook to Regency romance with her series about three event planners who’ve rejected working as governesses to become party planners. This delightful, behind-the-scenes premise will appeal to fans of the Netflix hit Bridgerton, HBO’s The Gilded Age, and readers of Julia Quinn, Lisa Kleypas, Madeline Hunter and Ella Quinn.

When members of the ton’s elite need to host a dazzling party, they call upon the planning services of Elegant Occasions—three young ladies who’ve put their talents for fashion, food, and music to excellent use. But while they excel in designing the perfect social event, love refuses to abide by any plan . . .

A youthful widow, Eliza Pierce is enjoying both freedom and financial success as part of Elegant Occasions. Then her late husband’s best friend, Nathaniel Stanton, the Earl of Foxstead, hires Elegant Occasions to help another young widow of an officer become part of high society, and Eliza wonders why. Is the woman a relative? Or is she the earl’s mistress and her adorable toddler his child? If so, why does he take Eliza in his arms every chance he gets . . .

Foxstead’s family situation makes it difficult for him to marry, so his visceral attraction to Lieutenant Pierce’s widow is an unwelcome complication. Sworn to secrecy concerning his friend’s life in the army, Foxstead is trying to honor the man’s last wishes, even when it means being around Eliza every day. But how can he resist when the fetching Eliza keeps tempting him to break his own rules? For if he dares to expose the truth, will she ever forgive him? Or will she banish him from her life forever . . .
Goodreads

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

Mrs Eliza Pierce, a widow and one of the owners of Elegant Occasions, is enjoying her time in helping young men and women find their place in the ton. With her sister, Diana, now married, Eliza has a greater role in the company, but is still shocked when her late husband's best friend, Nathaniel Stanton, the Earl of Foxstead, arrives in town, begging her to take on his ward as a client, and get her re-married as quickly as possible. Nathaniel's ward is the daughter of his commanding officer, and when he died she was left in his care, as a widow herself, with a young son. But Nathaniel is hiding a secret, and not just that he has always cared for Eliza, and wants her for himself.

This was just the right story for Eliza. When we meet her in A Duke for Diana, it's clear her marriage was not a perfect one, and being a widow is much better for her. I was expecting Sam, her late husband, to have been a bad guy, but he was even worse than I was expecting. Eliza was the daughter of an Earl, though her parents had their own scandals to contend with, and her marriage was too much for her father. I hoped that Nathaniel would've been more forthcoming with her earlier (I'm sorry, but it was clearly obvious what secret's he was hiding from the get go), and definitely agreed with the course of action Eliza took when she discovered the truth. She deserved the very best, and Nathaniel had to work for it - and he did. The subplot of Verity and the Phantom has definitely whet the appetite for her own book, and I'm desperately waiting to read it! Another great book from Sabrina, one not to miss.

Dates Read:
January 17-20, 2023

Rating
4 Stars

March

Stacking the Shelves: March 25th 2023

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2023 Beat the Backlist challenge

Review: Lady Derring Takes a Lover (The Palace of Rogues #1) by Julie Anne Long

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Lady Derring Takes a Lover
Series: The Palace of Rogues #1
Author: Julie Anne Long
Published February 26th 2019 by Avon

Goodreads Synopsis
A mistress. A mountain of debt. A mysterious wreck of a building.

Delilah Swanpoole, Countess of Derring, learns the hard way that her husband, “Dear Dull Derring,” is a lot more interesting—and perfidious—dead than alive. It’s a devil of an inheritance, but in the grand ruins of the one building Derring left her, are the seeds of her liberation. And she vows never again to place herself at the mercy of a man.

But battle-hardened Captain Tristan Hardy is nothing if not merciless. When the charismatic naval hero tracks a notorious smuggler to a London boarding house known as the Rogue’s Palace, seducing the beautiful, blue-blooded proprietress to get his man seems like a small sacrifice.

They both believe love is a myth. But a desire beyond reason threatens to destroy the armor around their hearts. Now a shattering decision looms: Will Tristan betray his own code of honor...or choose a love that might be the truest thing he’s ever known
Goodreads

Review
When Delilah Swanpoole, Countess of Derring, discovers that her husband's death has left her destitute, she's not surprised. Derring never looked after her, so why would he in death? With only days left to find somewhere to live, she is shocked to find that Derring did have one property, down on the riverfront. Selling the jewels she has left, and that of Derring's former mistress and current ally, Angelique Breedlove, they have just enough in order to turn that property into The Grand Palace on the Thames. Creating rules for their guests, when the handsome Captain Tristan Hardy arrives, and wants to stay, Delilah is conflicted. Surely someone as handsome and headstrong as he would not fit in well with their rag tag bunch? But Tristan is hiding exactly who he is, and he has Delilah in his sights.

I've always heard great things about Julie Anne Long's books, but never got around to buying any of them. Well, at Christmas I decided now was the time, and ordered the entire Palace of Rogues series so I could get right to it. Well, Lady Derring Takes a Lover definitely lived up to the hype! Delilah was dealt a bad hand, but she stayed positive and found a good situation for herself. The fact that she and Angelique sparked up an unlikely friendship and partnership was perfect, and I'm really looking forward to reading Angelique's book, because there's still so many questions there. For Delilah though, Tristan was the right person to allow her to embrace her goals and dreams. Yes, he lied about his intentions at first, and was at the Palace to discover if she had had any part in her husband's smuggling ring, but he fell for her, and fell hard. I never expected who the actual villain was going to be, and it was a hoot how it was all revealed. This was the best way to start a series, and to read a new author - roll on Angel in a Devil's Arms!

Dates Read:
January 8-10, 2023

Rating
4 Stars

Martha Waters

Waiting On Wednesday: To Swoon and to Spar (The Regency Vows #4) by Martha Waters

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2022 Beat the Backlist challenge

ARC Review: The Exact Opposite of Okay (Izzy O'Neill #1) by Laura Steven

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The Exact Opposite of Okay
Series: Izzy O'Neill #1
Author: Laura Steven
Published March 8th 2018 by Electric Monkey

Goodreads Synopsis
Izzy O’Neill is an aspiring comic, an impoverished orphan, and a Slut Extraordinaire. Or at least, that’s what the malicious website flying round the school says. Izzy can try all she wants to laugh it off – after all, her sex life, her terms – but when pictures emerge of her doing the dirty with a politician’s son, her life suddenly becomes the centre of a national scandal. Izzy’s never been ashamed of herself before, and she’s not going to start now. But keeping her head up will take everything she has...
Goodreads

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

Izzy O'Neill doesn't care what other people say about her, but when she becomes entangled with a local politician's son, and someone creates a blog calling her ever name under the sun, but most especially a 'Slut Extraordinaire', Izzy is angry. As the 'story' goes viral, and everyone from her local town, to across the country is talking about her, Izzy needs to use all of her bravado to make it through the end of school.

Well, this was a bit of a surprise. I didn't know what to expect going into it, but definitely was not expecting a book that discussed revenge porn, slut shaming, and the friend zone all in one. I loved how confident Izzy was, and how she embraced her life. Being raised by her grandmother, Betty, who worked two jobs to help support them, Izzy wanted to improve her life, and that of Betty. She had dreams of being a comic, and fully embraced her sexuality, and to hell with what others thought. I felt really sorry for her when the blog was posted, particularly when it started to include images and other details about her life. It was easy to guess at who the culprit was, though, and though the book is set in America, it was clear to see that the author was British - at least to me, anyway. All in all, though, a decent book.

Dates Read:
September 14-16 2022

Rating
3 Stars

4 Stars

ARC Review: A Spinster's Guide to Danger and Dukes (A Lady's Guide #3) by Manda Collins

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A Spinster's Guide to Danger and Dukes
Series: A Lady's Guide #3
Author: Manda Collins
Published March 28th 2023 by Forever

Goodreads Synopsis
It is a truth universally acknowledged that a lady in danger must be in need of rescue, but whether she wants to be rescued is up for debate—for fans of Evie Dunmore and Netflix's Bridgerton from the bestselling author of A Lady's Guide to Mischief and Mayhem!

England, 1867: Miss Poppy Delamare is living a lie. To escape an odious betrothal, she fled to London where she’s been hiding as the unassuming secretary Flora Deaver. However, when her beloved sister is accused of murder, Poppy cannot leave her to the wolves. Only a most unexpected—and unwelcome—collision interrupts her journey home . . .

Despite a rather dismal first meeting, Joshua Fielding, the Duke of Langham, has no intention of abandoning a lady in need. But he’s not above asking a favor. A fake betrothal will give Poppy and her sister the power of the dukedom and protect Langham from the society misses intent on becoming his duchess.

Yet the longer the ruse goes on, the more Poppy and Langham realize how false their first impressions were—and the less pretend their engagement feels. But before Langham can propose in truth, their search reveals a tangled web of lies and betrayals. With time running out, can Poppy and Langham find the real culprit—before Poppy becomes the next victim?
Goodreads

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

Miss Flora Deaver has a secret. Working as a secretary to her friends, Katherine and Caro, she has hidden the fact she is from a country gentry family, and is in fact Miss Poppy Delamare. She fled her home to avoid marrying her stepfathers partner, and has never returned. However, when her sister is accused of murdering her husband - the very man Poppy fled from - Poppy needs to return to save her sister. On the train home, Poppy runs into the Duke of Langham, and though they had a bad first meeting, Joshua will not abandon a lady in distress, especially one in his social circle. Hatching a plan to pretend to be engaged to allow Poppy more freedom and power to help her sister, and Joshua to avoid the ladies his family have assembled to force him to marry, they expect everything will easy going. But when feelings start becoming apparent, will the couple be able to remember it's a 'fake' engagement.

Another great book by Manda! A Spinster's Guide to Danger and Dukes had it all. Intrigue, suspense, mystery, romance, love. Poppy and Langham's relationship definitely was not a smooth one, and they did not make a good first impression on each other. They do have chemistry though, and the fake relationship was the perfect plot line for the pair. I appreciated the way Langham stood up for Poppy, particularly when it came to his family and the woman they gathered for him to pick from. He also knew when she didn't need the help, but wanted support. Langham didn't underestimate her, and he bolstered her when she needed it. The mystery took turns I wasn't expecting, and I was gripped until the very end. I hope there are more books in this series, as I need more of Manda's epic storytelling.

Dates Read:
October 22-23, 2022

Rating
4 Stars