Sophie Reads YA: 2024

December Summary

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ARC Review: Dalliance with the Duchess (Disgraceful Duchesses #3) by Sara Bennett

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Dalliance with the Duchess
Series: Disgraceful Duchesses #3
Author: Sara Bennett
Published November 29th 2024 by Dragonblade Publishing, Inc.

Goodreads Synopsis
Far from being enemies, Sophia and Nicholas discover they are ideally matched. Can they find a happy ever after?

Ten years after marrying the Duke of Oldney, Sophia is a widow, living quietly without the society intrigue and gossip she once craved. But when the man she hates, Nicholas Blake, asks for her help to save his young friend from Oldney’s vicious friends, Sophia agrees to return to a world she now despises. Nicholas has only ever been her adversary, but as they work closely together, loathing turns to irresistible desire. Could she have been wrong about him?

Nicholas Blake has always found Sophia fascinating, even when they were sworn enemies, but suddenly blazing anger has turned into unstoppable passion. How can he focus on important matters like saving his friend and finding his missing sister, when all he can think about is Sophia?

And now that she has put herself in danger to help him, he must do everything in his power to keep her safe.
Goodreads

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

Sophia, now Dowager Duchess of Oldney, is ready to rid herself of the pain and suffering she felt under the control of her late husband. Oldney and his friendship group were brutes, and she wants nothing to do with them, so is finding it difficult to help her former enemy, Nicholas Blake. Nicholas needs Sophia to get back in touch with Oldney's set, to help save his friend Gordon from their control. Sophia agrees, but soon questions if everything she once knew was true, and whether she's wasted her time on hating Nicholas, when they could've had passion instead.

Another enjoyable book in the series, and Nicholas and Sophia definitely had a strong enough chemistry to keep their romance going. From the moment they'd met, they'd hated each other - but did they really? After all, there's a fine line between love and hate, and the tryst they shared at Vauxhall would support that. I liked the dynamic between the pair, and the mutual respect they had for each other even when they were denying their true feelings. My favourite part of the entire series is that all three sisters, who were forced into marrying dukes by their mother, managed to find love and happiness in the end, and it made them closer than ever.

Dates Read:
December 7-8, 2024

Rating
3 Stars

3 Stars

ARC Review: Tempting the Duchess (Disgraceful Duchesses #2) by Sara Bennett

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Tempting the Duchess
Series: Disgraceful Duchesses #2
Author: Sara Bennett
Published August 29th 2024 by Dragonblade Publishing, Inc.

Goodreads Synopsis
Together Ellis and Owen burn bright with their unstoppable passion, but will her secret destroy their happiness?

Widowed Ellis Mallory is running for her life when she finds shelter at the home of artist Owen, Lord Lyndhurst. She agrees to sit for him. During the five years of her sham marriage, Ellis longed for a lover to teach her the pleasures of passion. But Owen has rules when it comes to his relations with his models. As Ellis poses for Owen’s brazen drawings, she decides she must be bold if she is to get past his scruples and capture his heart.

Owen once dreamed of being a famous portrait painter, but now he draws saucy pictures of half naked ladies and sells them to his publisher in London. His latest model has left him in the lurch and he is in dire need of someone to sit for him, when Ellis arrives. A beautiful damsel in distress, he is instantly attracted to her, and when she agrees to pose for him he decides not to ask too many questions.

Despite her being a temptation he finds impossible to resist.
Goodreads

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

Ellis, Dowager Duchess of Breamore, is fleeing for her life. She's just lost her husband, and his cousin Theo is angry that she has inherited most of the property, while he just got the title. Knowing that if she dies without marrying or any children, he'd be able to claim the property, he's out for blood, and Ellis knows it's only a matter of time before he finds her. She finds shelter at the home of Owen, Lord Lyndhurst, an artist in dire need of a model. In return for shelter, Ellis agrees to be his muse, and considering her 5 year marriage was a sham, she's ready to explore her sensual side.

I think I liked this one a little better than the previous book. Ellis knew her mother expected her to make a prestigious match, and when she found her duke, he was willing to marry her for friendship. The duke became really good friends with Ellis, but his relationship with his lover, Elijah, was everything to him. Even so, he made sure that Ellis would be well off when he passed, and everything unentailed was left to her - which also had it's own problems. The heir, Theo, wanted everything belonging to the Breamore estate, and that included Ellis. If he couldn't have her, then he wouldn't let anyone, and he'd get rid of her to make sure he inherited the lot. I appreciated how Elijah and Ellis worked together to get her free, and though Owen was happily living alone in the countryside, he recognised a damsel in distress, and protected her. Owen and Ellis did have a bit of an instalust connection, but they made it work, and soon Owen's alpha male side came out when Theo came knocking. He knew he was falling for her, and he wasn't going to let anyone get to her.

Dates Read:
December 6-7, 2024

Rating
3 Stars

3 Stars

ARC Review: Seducing the Duchess (Disgraceful Duchesses #1) by Sara Bennett

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Seducing the Duchess
Series: Disgraceful Duchesses #1
Author: Sara Bennett
Published May 31st 2024 by Dragonblade Publishing, Inc.

Goodreads Synopsis
Sebastian is seducing the duchess…or is she seducing him?

Catherine, Dowager Duchess of Wellesley, is on her way home to her bleak castle in the North of England, when she becomes trapped in a snowbound inn. The lonely widow of an old husband, her hopes of finding a man who can show her the sort of passion she longs for, are fading. That is until she discovers the gentleman she met ten years ago, and has been dreaming of ever since, is sharing her captivity.

Is this her chance to finally make those dreams come true?

Sebastian, Viscount Albury, is on his way home to his estranged father, a man he has not seen since the tragic death of his mother. What he needs now is a distraction. For years he has lived a rake’s life in London, his heart unhindered by emotion, but when he sees Catherine something changes.

Can he seduce the duchess and walk away?

Trapped together, Catherine and Sebastian, discover more than the passion that binds them. But can they escape the past and make a future together?
Goodreads

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

Married when she was only 19 to a lord old enough to be her grandfather, widowed Catherine, Dowager Duchess of Wellesley is returning to her cold, unwelcoming castle in the north. The only light in her life is her young son Jack, but her late husband has managed to ruin that even from beyond the grave. Catherine and Jack need to live in the remote castle, or else they lose the title and wealth which comes from the estate. Proving again and again that would do anything for her family, Catherine just wishes for happiness, even if it is fleeting. When the weather takes a turn for the worst, she is snowed in at the sleepy White Rose Inn, with none other than Sebastian, Viscount Albury, a man Catherine remembers dancing with in her debut season, and who has only gotten more handsome as the years have passed. Will they both give into their attraction for the time they have together, and be able to walk away when the snow clears?

This was a thoroughly enjoyable read, and I really appreciated Catherine's struggles and her guilt over trying to find happiness. She was dragged to London with her sisters and forced to marry to save the family. She did so without making a fuss, and even when she's 'free' from her husband, he still is controlling her life. Being with Sebastian was one of the only things she had ever done for herself, and it was both exciting and terrifying to have that ability. Her love for Jack was clear at every turn, and the moments she and Sebastian spent together talking about him, and their families, were really sweet, and helped to cement their relationship.

Dates Read:
November 27-28, 2024

Rating
3 Stars

December

Stacking the Shelves: December 28th 2024

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3 Stars

ARC Review: Starting Again (The Heart of Bath #3) by Jenny Worstall

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Starting Again
Series: The Heart of Bath #3
Author: Jenny Worstall
Published December 21st 2024 by Dragonblade Publishing, Inc.

Goodreads Synopsis
A heart-warming romance set in Regency Bath...

Marianne Pembroke has been sent to Bath by her parents to stay with her aunt, the formidable Lady Barrington, for one purpose only – to find a new husband. Widowed tragically young, Marianne’s circumstances mean that she must be successful in the marriage market or suffer the indignity of becoming a governess. But Marianne is determined to remain unwed, for she fears her heart bears so many scars she will never be able to love again.

Edmund Templeton is the heir to his father’s title and fortune. His parents think it is high time he settled down and made a suitable marriage, but he is in no hurry to give up his life of leisure. For where would be the fun in that?

Once Marianne and Edmund discover what they have in common – a wish not to marry – they become firm friends, a situation they are both sure they are perfectly content with. Then events take a dramatic turn with a sudden illness, a duel and the re-emergence of an old enemy of the Templeton family who is not quite what he seems...

Will love save the day?
Goodreads

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

Losing her husband so young has left Marianne scarred in multiple ways. Her family are encouraging her to remarry, and have sent her to live with her aunt in Bath for the season with one aim - marry, or become a governess. Determined to never marry without love, and not expecting to find it again, Marianne knows it' futile, but she meets Edmund Templeton, and soon they plot to get their families off their backs. Edmund is the heir of his father's title, and is being hassled to marry and start a family, especially after his siblings weddings. He has no inclination to wed though, and so he and Marianne pretend to be in love to bide their time. However, circumstances soon lead them to wonder if their adamance to not marry is getting in the way of true love?

I liked how the entire Templeton family came together in this book to support each other. Edmund was definitely hard headed, and it took more than a few events for him to see that his growing friendship and camaraderie with Marianne could be his future, and that the feelings he was getting around her were actually feelings of love. I don't think their chemistry was the best in the series, but their friendship was enjoyable to read, and it was clear to everyone that they were a good match.

Dates Read:
November 23-24, 2024

Rating
3 Stars

3 Stars

ARC Review: Breaking Free (The Heart of Bath #2) by Jenny Worstall

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Breaking Free
Series: The Heart of Bath #2
Author: Jenny Worstall
Published September 13th 2024 by Dragonblade Publishing, Inc.

Goodreads Synopsis
A sparkling romance set in Regency Bath...

Strong-willed, vivacious and impulsive, Selina Templeton is determined to break free from the narrow confines of her life. She is happiest when eavesdropping at doors, or standing on the roof of Number 1 Royal Crescent dreaming of how she could change the world. Perhaps she might reform the prisons, or abolish slavery?

George Fitzgerald is a good friend of Selina’s brother, Henry. Clever and gentle, he is training to be a medical doctor, and is happiest in the company of his beloved horse, Trigger. He has worshipped Selina from afar for many a year, too shy to declare himself. Will he ever pluck up the courage?

When George and Selina are seated next to each other at a dinner party, hopes for the perfect romance to blossom are high – but despite an initial physical attraction, Selina judges George to be both dull and conceited. What could she possibly have in common with someone this tedious? And George persists in his belief that he has no hope of capturing the heart of the goddess-like Selina.

Will love find a way to break through, before a mysterious enemy takes his revenge?
Goodreads

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

Miss Selina Templeton has never been content in her sheltered life, and wishes for more. She wants to help change the world, but as a single woman in Regency era Bath, there's little she can do. But perhaps her brother's best friend and doctor in training, George Fitzgerald, could help? Selina has always cared for George, but she's starting to see him in a new light. Can George convince her that he's not dull and boring, but rather shy around the woman he loves?

As soon as I finished Lost and Found I couldn't wait to read Selina and George's book. They had such chemistry at the end of book 1 that it was clear they were made to be together, but the path to true love never did run smoothly. There's mystery and intrigue, and quite a bit of miscommunication before they could possibly have the romance they deserved. Seeing Henry and Kitty again, and learning more about Edmund - the hero of book 3 - was fantastic. I'm not overly in love with the writing style of this series, but the stories are enjoyable enough, and well worth a read.

Dates Read:
November 17-18, 2024

Rating
3 Stars

3 Stars

ARC Review: Lost and Found (The Heart of Bath #1) by Jenny Worstall

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Lost and Found
Series: The Heart of Bath #1
Author: Jenny Worstall
Published June 21st 2024 by Dragonblade Publishing, Inc.

Goodreads Synopsis
A sweet romance set in Regency Bath...

Captain Henry Templeton is missing after the battle of Waterloo, presumed dead. Six months later, a few weeks before Christmas, he returns secretly to his home city of Bath. He is desperate to declare himself to his childhood friend, Miss Kitty Honeyfield, but fears she will not be able to accept the man he has become after his shocking adventures. And until Henry has discovered the identity of the mysterious enemy who wishes him dead, he cannot risk exposing Kitty to danger.

Kitty is ecstatic to learn that the man she loves has survived. She longs for the romance with Henry she has always dreamt of – but will he still be interested in her after his experiences abroad? Besides, her father has made it clear he expects her to restore the family fortunes by marrying the odious Lord Steyne.

As friendship blossoms into love, Henry’s enemy emerges from the shadows with a wicked plan to separate the pair for ever...
Goodreads

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

Losing her love at Waterloo was almost too much for Kitty Honeyfield to bear, so when he reappears outside the lending library, and drags her into a nearby alley, Kitty will believe anything he says. Hearing how Captain Henry Templeton was left for dead by an English gentleman on the battlefield, and may still be in danger, Kitty vows to do everything she can to help him be free. But her own life is at risk, and she may be about to lose everything she's ever wanted for her love.

I love historical romances that have a bit of a mystery to them, and this one was no different. Set six months after Waterloo, Kitty is dealing with her grief over losing Henry, her oldest friend and the only person she's ever loved, as well as her own mother's illness and father's gambling which is ruining the family. She has her former governess turned companion Miss Steele by her side, but there's something up with Miss Steele and the creepy Lord Steyne. I loved the way that Henry and Kitty really cared for each other, it wasn't an instalove like in some historical romances, and the whole Templeton family were supportive of them. I did guess at some of the twists, but that didn't mean they weren't enjoyable. This is definitely a solid Regency romance, and I'm looking forward to reading the other books in the series.

Dates Read:
November 16-17, 2024

Rating
3 Stars