Sophie Reads YA: Diana Quincy

2023 New Release challenge

ARC Review: The Duke Gets Desperate (Sirens in Silk #1) by Diana Quincy

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The Duke Gets Desperate
Series: Sirens in Silk #1
Author: Diana Quincy
Published September 26th 2023 by Avon

Goodreads Synopsis
Diana Quincy returns with a steamy affair between an Arab-American woman who inherits a run-down castle in the English countryside and the duke who asserts the castle is his, in the first book in a brand-new Victorian historical romance series.

Anthony Cary, Duke of Strickland, inherits his spendthrift father's title and can finally restore the family castle to its former glory. But at the reading of the will, Strick is stunned to learn that his father has secretly disentailed him, leaving the family manor--home to twelve generations of dukes--to Strick's American stepmother. Everyone knows Strick detests the dowager duchess, and when she dies mysteriously, damning rumors start to surface.

When Raya Darwish unexpectedly inherits her glamorous late cousin's castle in the English countryside, she clashes with the charismatic young duke who insists the castle is rightfully his. The estate is practically bankrupt, so she must find a way to work with the duke in order to save both of their futures.

The two cannot stand each other, but mutual disdain soon gives way to desire. When questions arise about how her cousin died, Raya cannot help wondering if Strick's sudden unbridled passion for her is part of a scheme to get his castle back...
Goodreads

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

Anthony Cary, Duke of Strickland, has finally inherited the duchy, but not all it entails. His father secretly left the family home, Tremayne Castle, to his young stepmother, Deena, and Anthony is a duke in name only. On his stepmother's death, he expects that his home will be returned, but at the will reading, it's revealed that his stepmother left everything to a distant American cousin, who's due to arrive any day now. When Raya Darwish arrives in England, it seems like a miracle. She has been pushed out of the family business, but this English castle is completely hers, and no one can take it from her. But there's a problem - the estate is bankrupt, and for both Raya and Anthony to manage, they need to work together before it's too late.

This was so fun! Raya and Anthony hated each other from the beginning, and actively went out of their way to ruin the other's day. Raya seemed to be one of the only people who didn't believe the rumours that Anthony killed Deena, but even so, she wasn't going to let him get his hands on her castle. Raya needed something for herself, though her family all believed she should be married by now, and stop thinking about business. Instead, she thinks about how she can monetise the castle, by opening it up to the paying public, and invigorating the nearby town. As much as Anthony hates that idea, he does see merit in the plan, and knows that both he and Raya need money, sooner rather than later. The chemistry between Raya and Anthony was off the charts, and this was a fantastic enemies-to-lovers romance. I can't wait to see what happens in book 2, and hope Raya and Anthony play a part - I need to see them happy together!

Dates Read:
July 17-20, 2023

Rating
4 Stars

Diana Quincy

Waiting on Wednesday: The Marquess Makes His Move (Clandestine Affairs #3) by Diana Quincy

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2021 Beat the Backlist challenge

Review: Her Night with the Duke (Clandestine Affairs #1) by Diana Quincy

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Her Night with the Duke
Series: Clandestine Affairs #1
Author: Diana Quincy
Published September 29th 2020 by Avon

Goodreads Synopsis
Desire knows no reason...

When Lady Delilah Chambers finds herself stranded at a country inn on a rain-swept evening, she’s forced to fend off a group of ruffians with the help of a handsome gentleman. Irresistibly drawn to each other, Leela and the stranger spend one reckless night in each others’ arms—and then go their separate ways. But the very next day Leela receives the shock of her life when she meets the duke who is set on wedding her beloved stepdaughter.

When it finds two destined hearts...

One night isn’t enough with a woman as fierce, fiery, and brilliant as Leela. Elliot Townsend, Duke of Huntington, cannot believe his good fortune when their chance encounter leads to an unforgettable evening of passion. Yet Hunt’s luck runs out when he is introduced to his prospective mother-in-law. Dowagers aren’t supposed to look like this...

Leela and Hunt are determined to keep each other at arm’s length, which should be easy enough for two intelligent adults with reputations to uphold. The problem is all logic is lost when it comes to a passion that refuses to be ignored.
Goodreads

Review
Leela Chambers finds herself trapped in a country inn on a rainy night, and is rescued by the handsome Elliot Townsend, and they later spend the night together before leaving for their original destinations - which just happen to be the same place. The thing is that Leela is in fact Lady Delilah Chambers, the daughter of a Marquess and a widowed Countess, and Elliot is the Duke of Huntington, on the way to her estate to spend time with her stepdaughter, Tori, who is due to become betrothed to Elliot. Leela can't believe she slept with her stepdaughter's future husband, and spends nearly the entire house party hiding in her room. But Elliot can't stop thinking about her, and soon it's clear he doesn't want the daughter, he wants Leela, and won't marry anyone else. When events take a turn, will they be able to be together, or are they doomed to love from afar?

I hadn't really heard much about this book until I was approved for the sequel, so ordered a copy and started it as soon as I was able to. I enjoyed it as a whole, but there were times when the plot dragged, or it seemed as if it was just long, lusting looks across a room, rather than actual romance. One aspect of the story I adored though, was Leela's history and heritage being explored. Her mother was the daughter of a Levantine merchant, who married a Marquess, and admittedly, did have some difficulty moving in society. Leela though, never forgot her history, especially with the gossip, but her pedigree was second to none, and even better, she didn't let their words hurt her. Rather she spent her time exploring her homeland, and was an acclaimed author - though not many knew her travelogues were written by a woman. Seeing all of that, and her meeting her relatives who lived in the North West, was more than enough to make up for some of the other lacking qualities in the book. I did like Leela and Elliot together, for the most part, and how they dealt with the angst and events that were there to pull them apart. Meeting Griff and Hanna, setting up for their story, has made me glad I have a copy of The Viscount Made Me Do It.

Dates Read:
May 5-8, 2021

Rating
4 Stars

2021 New Release challenge

ARC Review: The Viscount Made Me Do It (Clandestine Affairs #2) by Diana Quincy

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The Viscount Made Me Do It
Series: Clandestine Affairs #2
Author: Diana Quincy
Published July 27th 2021 by Avon

Goodreads Synopsis
Diana Quincy returns with the second novel in her Clandestine Affairs series featuring a steamy romance between a working class London bonesetter who is dangerously attracted to her mysterious noble client.

A seduction that could ruin everything...

Hanna Zaydan has fought to become London’s finest bonesetter, but her darkly appealing new patient threatens to destroy everything she’s worked so hard for. The daughter of Arab merchants is slowly seduced by the former soldier — even though she’s smart enough to know Griff is after more than he’ll reveal. Whatever it is, the bonesetter’s growing desire for the man just might tempt her to give it to him.

An attraction that cannot be denied...

Rumors that he killed his own parents have followed Thomas Ellis, Viscount Griffin, practically since he was a boy. More than a decade after the tragedy, Griff receives a tip about his parents’ killer… one that takes him straight to a captivating bonesetter. Griff is convinced Hanna is a fraud, but the dark-eyed beauty stirs deep feelings in him that he thought had perished along with his family.

Hanna has a gift for fixing fractured people, but can she also mend a broken heart? More importantly, will Griff let her?
Goodreads

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

Hanna Zaydan may be a bonesetter, but she knows that she is one of the best, and she will not let anyone say otherwise. The traditional doctors in London want her to be banned for practising, but when the injured Thomas Ellis, Viscount Griffin, is healed by her work - after 2 years worth of pain - he's fully on her side. Griff has been accused of murdering his parents when he was just a teenager, and faced the stigma ever since. His only real supporter the whole time was his guardian, Dr Norman Pratt, who as one of the leading London doctors, denounces bonesetters as quacks, and tells Griff his pain will heal eventually by itself. Well, Griff now knows that Hanna's work is legitimate, and encourages her in her efforts, though he has his own reasons too. You see, Hanna was spotted wearing a necklace his mother always wore, and one that was stolen from her body after the murder, and he thinks that by gaining Hanna's trust, and working with her to discover how the necklace came into her family's ownership, they may just uncover the truth about the murders, and fall in love in the meantime.

I was approved for this book through Edelweiss before I realised it was book 2 in a series. So, I ordered book 1, and though I didn't love it, I was definitely intrigued, and hoped that Griff, who was a side character in Her Night with the Duke, would be the hero of The Viscount Made Me Do It, because I wanted to know more about the murders that were mentioned. Well, I was in luck, and both Griff, and Hanna - who we also met in book 1 - were the perfect couple to lead this book. There was such a chemistry between them, from their first meeting, to the final pages, that just gripped my attention, and meant that I couldn't put the book down. I devoured it in one sitting - luckily it was half term, so I was off work - and was fully invested in the plot. Both of them are somewhat outsiders, with those around them not really understanding them, or in Griff's case, seemingly shunning them. Hanna, as a single woman, in an Arab family, is regularly told by her grandmother in particular, that she should marry, and stop working, but her work as a Bonesetter, helping people, is all she wants. She doesn't want to marry just because she should, but when she gets to know Griff, it's the first time she can imagine herself as a wife, but neither her family, nor his world, would accept it. Or would they? Griff has been alone for so long - we see purposefully by someone who wanted to keep him to themselves - and Hanna is one of the first people in a really long time that he can trust. The mystery surrounding the murders was definitely thrilling, and though I had my suspicions, I hadn't guessed at the full extent of it all until the big reveal. I really enjoy this, and am pleased I was approved for my review copy. I'll be on the lookout for Diana's next release!

Dates Read:
June 1, 2021

Rating
4 Stars