Sophie Reads YA: Christi Caldwell

Waiting On Wednesday: The Diamond and the Duke (All the Duke's Sins #3) by Christi Caldwell

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2022 New Release challenge

Blog Tour & ARC Review: Desperately Seeking a Duchess (All the Duke's Sins #2) by Christi Caldwell

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Desperately Seeking a Duchess
Series: All the Duke's Sins #2
Author: Christi Caldwell
Published May 24th 2022 by Berkley Books

Goodreads Synopsis
What happens when an impoverished duke with a reputation for being a rogue collides with a strong-willed heiress who wants to explore the world? An unlikely friendship...and unexpected passion.

Cailin Audley doesn't fit in with Polite Society. A life spent among the working class taught her to value her independence in a way no newfound fortune or glittering ballroom could ever erase. When a major misstep sees the new heiress whisked away to the English countryside, Cailin soon realizes the vexing lengths her family will go to see her settled. But having risked her heart once before, Cailin has no interest in the men of the ton--especially not the frustratingly charming Duke of St. James.

Courtland Balfour, the Duke of St. James, devoted brother and notorious rogue, despises what he must become--a fortune hunter. But with the ducal coffers drained by his late, spendthrift of a father, Courtland knows his duty lies at the altar and he will do anything to ensure a future for his siblings. Just his luck that the one lady who could make this new fate bearable, who enflames him like no other, is the one woman who wants nothing to do with him or his title.

But when an act of desperation inadvertently lands he and Cailin at the heart of another scandal, Courtland knows better than to waste his chance. Surely he can convince Cailin to love him?
Goodreads

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

For all of her life, Cailin Audley has known that her brother's would do anything for her, even if that means meeting their absentee father, and joining polite society so she could have a good life. But Cailin doesn't fit in with the other society women, and she would much rather be back home in her mining village, than in a Mayfair ballroom. She might be able to learn how to act the part, but when the stain of being a Duke's illegitimate daughter is indelible, no matter how large a dowry her father awards her, it's clear that Cailin is looked down on. Apart from by the handsome and charming Duke of St. James. Courtland Balfour may be a duke, but he's a penniless one, and knows that he needs to do something to save his family, especially his younger sisters. The only family member who has any inkling of the financial situation is his twin brother, who works for Cailin's family, and after a mistaken idea to masquerade as his brother, and kiss Cailin, Courtland needs to protect them all. Cailin, who just may be the only woman he could imagine marrying, wants nothing to do with him, but when she lands herself in the country after a social faux pas, can she steel her heart against the duke.

Immediately after reading Along Came a Lady, I had to start book 2. When we met Cailin, it was clear that she had such a story waiting to tell, and let me tell you, Desperately Seeking a Duchess did not disappoint! I couldn't put this down from the moment I picked it up. Cailin is a strong woman, but she's got vulnerable sides, and being in society is not right for her. She soon realises that her family want her married and settled as quickly as they can - for her own good, because they want her to be safe - but it rankles, especially after having her heart broken in the past. Her and Courtland's relationship was perfect for their characters, as was the interactions with their siblings, who were so protective of them! Ellie, in particular, was the superstar of the book, though some of her actions were questionable. Honestly, I don't think I could've asked for much more from this book, and the way they opened up, and truly fell for each other, was one of the best romances I've read in a while. Caldwell has kicked it out the park, and I'm looking forward to her next book!

Dates Read:
March 6, 2022

Rating
4 Stars

About Christi Caldwell:
Christi Caldwell is the USA Today bestselling author of the Sinful Brides series and the Heart of a Duke series. She blames novelist Judith McNaught for luring her into the world of historical romance. Christi lives in Charlotte, North Carolina where she spends her time writing and being a mommy to the most inspiring little boy and empathetic, spirited girls who, with their mischievous twin antics, offer an endless source of story ideas. Learn more online at christicaldwell.com.
LINKS: Website | Twitter | Goodreads | Facebook

2022 Beat the Backlist challenge

Review: Along Came a Lady (All the Duke's Sins #1) by Christi Caldwell

10:00

Along Came a Lady
Series: All the Duke's Sins #1
Author: Christi Caldwell
Published August 24th 2021 by Berkley Books

Goodreads Synopsis
The brooding, illegitimate son of a duke meets his match in the determined woman hired to transform him into a gentleman from USA Today bestselling author Christi Caldwell—perfect for fans of Bridgerton.

Rafe Audley lives to thwart his father, the Duke of Bentley. The ne'er do well who abandoned his children claims he wants to make up for his failures, but Rafe only cares about protecting the people of his mining community and providing for his three siblings, who've been his sole responsibility since childhood. So far, Rafe has turned away the duke's man of affairs, solicitor, and other interlopers, until the clever duke sends the unlikeliest of people to convince Rafe to join English High Society—a bold and intriguing woman.

Edwina Dalrymple has never failed a charge. She's quite adept at successfully transforming young women of the gentry and daughters of newly minted lords to take their place in society. Taming a bastard son of a duke will be child's play, plus this job promises to enhance her reputation within the ton. All she has to do is fetch the wayward Rafe and groom him to be presentable to Polite Society.

As the tenacious teacher and her domineering, stubborn, refuses-to-be-taught pupil engage in a fiery battle of wills, their chemistry ignites and the true lesson becomes clear: opposites attract and hearts must be heard.
Goodreads

Review
All his life, Rafe Audley has known he was the bastard son of the Duke of Bentley. He regularly saw his mother leave him and his siblings to head to London to be with the Duke, and when she died birthing Rafe's sister, Cailtin, he decided he never wanted anything to do with the man. He's the one responsible for looking after his siblings, and even when the duke decides he wants to do something about his children, Rafe has rebutted all requests, and turned them all away, until Edwina arrives. Edwina Dalrymple has a secret she needs to keep, especially if she wants to keep her position in transforming the young men and women of the gentry prior to their debut. Working for the Duke of Bentley will be one of the biggest jobs she's done, but she's more than capable - isn't she? However, from the get go, Rafe and Edwina butt heads, and their chemistry and attraction gets in the way regularly. What initially seemed to be an easy job, soon proves otherwise, but can Edwina tame this stubborn miner?

I had wanted to read this book for ages, but hadn't managed to get a copy so it was put on the back burner for a bit. Though when I was approved for book 2, I knew I needed to order one, and as soon as Along Came a Lady arrived, I couldn't put it down. Straight away, I was hooked by the characters, and Rafe and Edwina were so worthy and endearing, it was easy to fall for them. The premise of a Duke discovering his former mistress had his children, and wanting to get to know them, and care for them, was lovely, and when we got to know Bentley, I really liked him. I completely understood Rafe's feelings, though, and having to become a father figure to his 3 siblings, after consoling and caring for his mother for so long, it really took a toll on him, and he had walls so thick, that it was quite the task for Edwina to manage. Edwina was the perfect person for the job, and she understood Rafe so well, and had a plan even he couldn't argue with, which was so good to see. Rafe needed someone to take him down a peg, and take him out of his own head, and Edwina did that! Along Came a Lady was the perfect start to the series, and definitely lived up to my expectations.

Dates Read:

March 5, 2022

Rating
4 Stars

2021 New Release challenge

ARC Review: The Importance of Being Wanton (Wantons of Waverton #2) by Christi Caldwell

11:00

The Importance of Being Wanton
Series: Wantons of Waverton #2
Author: Christi Caldwell
Published June 29th 2021 by Montlake

Goodreads Synopsis
USA Today bestselling author Christi Caldwell turns polite London society on its head in a delightful romance of unguarded hearts, second chances, and a scandalous rivalry between the sexes.

Emma Gately and the Earl of Scarsdale were betrothed as children―less a vow of future happiness than an obligation. Seventeen years later, the independent miss severs the contract with the now notorious libertine in an unprecedented act of independence. And Emma cofounds the Mismatch Society, where like-minded ladies are free of the constraints and inevitable broken hearts that men bring. But Emma’s rejection sparks in her intended a new consideration of the spirited woman he took for granted―and a determination to win her back.

Despite his wicked reputation, misguided and suddenly lovestruck, Charles Hayden is on a mission to gain Emma’s respect, and he has just the idea―one that the daringly unconventional Emma is sure to appreciate. But as Charles takes bold steps and sets tongues wagging, he makes himself an accidental opponent of his former betrothed. Soon, a rivalry is born that has the whole ton abuzz.

Emma never anticipated that with every fiery test of wills, passion would surge. Passion that’s impossible to ignore. In going toe-to-toe with Charles, she risks her heart and pride by falling in love with the one man she vowed to scorn.
Goodreads

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

After being betrothed to Miss Emma Gately when they were both children, something neither of them wanted, everyone would expect that Charles Hayden, Earl of Scarsdale, would be overjoyed when Emma breaks off the engagement. But instead, seeing Emma in all her glory, ready to fight for what she wants, makes him reconsider everything he had thought about the woman, and see her in a new light. He'll do just about anything to win her back, but his past history and reputation are against him, as is his plans to create a salon similar to the Mismatch Society Emma is a part of. Emma was only 6 when she became engaged to Charles, and her entire life she was moulded to be his perfect bride. She couldn't wait to turn 18, go to London and be presented at court, and be closer to Charles. However, it soon became clear he wanted next to nothing to do with her, and the more she saw and heard about his escapades, the more heartbroken she became, until she ends up co-founding the Mismatch Society, to rebel against the societal norms expected of young ladies. She wants more than a marriage to someone who doesn't want to be with her, and she can't see how Charles, who has an illegitimate son, and two mistresses in a town house, could change. But, have they both misconstrued the actions of the other, and will they manage to prove they are right for each other?

These characters were fantastic! We first met both of them in Someone Wanton His Way Comes, and I for one couldn't wait to learn more about their betrothal, and hoping they would have a romance. Both families had been best friends for years, and once Emma was born, their parents decided she and the eldest Hayden - Charles - should one day marry, and join the families together. Initially, I wasn't as keen on Charles, seeing as how he only really started caring for Emma when she broke off their engagement, but when we learnt more about him - and the truth about his reputation, and son - we see him as a truly good person, doing whatever he can to help people, and that he is the one for Emma. Emma, though, I've loved since we met her in book 1. She was strong on the outside, but the years she's spent waiting for Charles, and the ridicule she's faced from society as Charles' exploits became known, have really hurt her. The rivalry between the couple, and them learning more about each other, was perfect, and I think that was the main issue with their relationship to begin with. They just didn't know each other, and if they had spent any real time together as teens, and then as adults, they would've been happier a lot earlier. Some parts of the book were a little stretched out, like the whole competing societies bit, but the moments between them, and especially with Seamus, really made the whole book.

Dates Read:
August 10-11, 2021

Rating
4 Stars

2021 New Release challenge

ARC Review: Someone Wanton His Way Comes (Wantons of Waverton #1) by Christi Caldwell

10:00

2021 Beat the Backlist challenge

ARC Review: Undressed with the Marquess (Lost Lords of London #3) by Christi Caldwell

11:00

Undressed with the Marquess
Series: Lost Lords of London #3
Author: Christi Caldwell
Published November 17th 2020 by Montlake

Goodreads Synopsis
For a heartbroken woman and a daring thief, the most tempting proposal comes after marriage in the unforgettable final Lost Lords of London novel by USA Today bestselling author Christi Caldwell.

Long ago, Dare Grey disappeared from privilege to help the downtrodden. Abandoning his future as a nobleman, he instead came of age as the most skilled—and wanted—thief in East London. But when the Robin Hood of the Rookeries is captured, his influential grandfather offers him a choice: face his heritage...or the gallows. And to step into his rightful role as marquess, Dare must find a wife.

Little do they know, he already has.

Marrying Dare rescued young Temperance Swift from a brutal life. Yet his commitments were elsewhere, and Temperance would not continue in the charade of a relationship that surely would end with her husband in Newgate Prison. It broke her heart to leave the righteous bandit, but she established a new life for herself as a seamstress. One who respected and obeyed the law and kept herself safe—if lonely.

But Dare finds her and offers to resume their role as husband and wife, and this time it will yield a fortune. A fortune that could be used to help the disadvantaged, without resorting to ever-more-daring thefts...

Once they're ensconced in the comfortable family fold of Mayfair, the romance they thought ended years ago stirs again. But when every kiss is shadowed by the mistakes of the past, and a haunting secret Temperance bears, will love be enough to save them from such an uncertain fate?
Goodreads

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

Just as Dare Grey is about to meet the hangman's noose - with no possible way of escape this time - he is handed a reprieve. He left home when he was only a child, and was never allowed back by his controlling father, but now that his father, and brother, are dead, he's the rightful Marquess of Milford. Unfortunately, the marquisate is destitute, and he has a younger sister he never met in his care too. His grandfather gives him an ultimatum - find your sister a husband, or marry yourself and have an heir, and you can have £20,000. For Dare, that seems an easy choice. He's known as the Robin Hood of the East End, helping those less fortunate than himself by stealing from the rich, and he also happens to already be married - even if his wife left five years ago when he was arrested. Temperance Grey knew her marriage to her best friend, Dare, wasn't a normal one, but it allowed her the freedom to escape from her controlling father. However, she had enough with Dare's schemes and arrests, and after a vicious attack by her father 5 years ago, she left and never looked back. Working as a seamstress in Cumbria, she's shocked when Dare arrives, with the news he's now a marquess, and he needs her help. Back in London, can Temperance trust Dare enough to look after her, and not break her heart again?

This was a book that just drew me in straight away, and I needed to see if Dare and Temperance managed to get a happy ending or not. Dare always knew he was a 'lost lord', being 10 when he first ran away, and then was denied the chance to come home. He saw how people lived in the East End, and wanted to help them in anyway he could, even if that meant stealing from other lords to pay for food, etc. This has landed him in Newgate more than a few times, but each time he manages to bribe his way out, and return to the streets to help. He met Temperance when she was only 10, and her dad was already trying to pimp her out for cash, and Dare took her under his wing. They became fast friends, and it turned into something more when they decided to marry. Temperance had an abusive, alcoholic father, who beat her, her mother, and her brother regularly, and she needed all her wits about her to survive. She's fallen for Dare, against her better judgement, and trusts he'll return after one of his visits to the country to steal, but instead she's attacked by her father, and loses the child she was carrying. This left her even more heartbroken, and she tell's Dare never to return. I honestly felt so sorry for her at this point, and when she was recounting her tale to Dare later on in the book. They were perfect for each other, and though they had a number of obstacles to overcome, like caring for an orphaned child, and dealing with Dare's sister's attitude, but they did so together, and I loved the conclusion. Like with the previous book, the only thing I wished for was more of a conclusion, or an epilogue to see how they were doing following the events in the final pages.

Dates Read:
February 17-18, 2020

Rating
4 Stars

2021 Beat the Backlist challenge

ARC Review: In the Dark with the Duke (Lost Lords of London #2) by Christi Caldwell

10:00

In the Dark with the Duke
Series: Lost Lords of London #2
Author: Christi Caldwell
Published June 9th 2020 by Montlake

Goodreads Synopsis
A lady of reserve and a fierce street fighter find common ground in the second Lost Lords of London novel by USA Today bestselling author Christi Caldwell.

Eight years ago, Lady Lila March retreated to the safe shadows of her family’s estate after a devastating tragedy. Weary of being a whisper of her former self, she is determined to brave the dangers of the outside world again. No man is better equipped to train her in the art of defense than the Savage Gentleman, East London’s undefeated street fighter.

Hugh Savage reigns as king—of the underworld. Physically invulnerable, emotionally battered, he has his reasons for bare-knuckle brawling. Though Hugh longs to break free of the ring and leave behind the brutal world of violence, he’s intrigued by the challenge Lady Lila poses. A mysterious lady of the peerage willfully descending into the dangerous rookeries? That bespeaks a woman with secrets of her own.

As their unconventional pact progresses, Hugh comes to admire the resolve in Lila’s heart. And beneath his hard surface, she sees a tenderness that touches her to the quick. They’ll soon discover how much they need each other—to face their pasts together, and to fight for a future they deserve.
Goodreads

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

Lady Lila March has been left scarred - both physically and mentally - by her experience at St Peter's Field that fateful day in August 1819. A recluse, she hasn't left her home since she recovered, and relies on the support of her family. However, enough is enough. Lila wants to be strong, and find the way to rejoin society, and feels that she needs to learn how to protect herself, and anyone else, if she finds herself in a dangerous situation again. She turns to Hugh Savage, East London’s undefeated street fighter, for his help, but he refuses - stating he doesn't teach others. He can't remember his early childhood, but knows that from a young age, he had to fight to survive, and was used as a pawn for the rich peers of London as entertainment. He managed to get his way out, but his experiences in the army, at Waterloo and Peterloo, left him scarred, and back in the ring in London. Will they be able to help each other, especially when it's revealed that Hugh is the long lost Duke of Wingate?

I've heard so much about Christi's books, and this was my first - but definitely not my last. Both of her main characters were wonderfully written, well rounded, and had such a growth throughout the course of the the book that it was a joy to see. Because of their past experiences, especially at Peterloo, they were damaged and broken inside - in different ways - and it was with each other, that they slowly were able to recover and move on with their lives. Lila had her family - her mam, brother, and widowed sister - there to support her, but even they were getting a little annoyed with her hiding from society. She's now 26/27ish, and should realistically be married by now, but it as just as she was starting her first season when she was caught up in the events in Manchester, and she never really had that experience of life. Even so, she was strong, and stood for what she wanted when she met Hugh, and didn't let him scare her or get her to back down. Hugh was sharp, and could be prickly and difficult, but he had a softer side we saw when he was with Lila - and only with Lila. He had had to develop this persona and wall to protect himself, and it was a hard one to crack through, but Lila did it. There's a mystery aspect of the book too, to find out who it was behind the Fight Club, and had caused Hugh and the others so much pain. I liked how it was resolved, and the ending of the book too. The couple had the happy ending they deserved, though I wish there was an epilogue or something. Hopefully we see more of the couple in the next book, which I'll be starting as soon as.

Dates Read:
February 16-17, 2020

Rating
4 Stars

Waiting On Wednesday: The Diamond and the Duke (All the Duke's Sins #3) by Christi Caldwell

Blog Tour & ARC Review: Desperately Seeking a Duchess (All the Duke's Sins #2) by Christi Caldwell

Review: Along Came a Lady (All the Duke's Sins #1) by Christi Caldwell

ARC Review: The Importance of Being Wanton (Wantons of Waverton #2) by Christi Caldwell

ARC Review: Someone Wanton His Way Comes (Wantons of Waverton #1) by Christi Caldwell

ARC Review: Undressed with the Marquess (Lost Lords of London #3) by Christi Caldwell

ARC Review: In the Dark with the Duke (Lost Lords of London #2) by Christi Caldwell

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