Sophie Reads YA: Jane Ashford

Jane Ashford

Waiting On Wednesday: The Duke Has Done It Again (The Duke's Estates #6) by Jane Ashford

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2023 New Release challenge

ARC Review: The Duke's Best Friend (The Duke's Estates #5) by Jane Ashford

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2023 New Release challenge

ARC Review: A Gentleman Ought to Know (The Duke's Estates #4) by Jane Ashford

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A Gentleman Ought to Know

Waiting On Wednesday: A Gentleman Ought to Know (The Duke's Estates #4) by Jane Ashford

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2022 New Release challenge

ARC Review: Blame It on the Earl (The Duke's Estates #3) by Jane Ashford

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Blame It on the Earl
Series: The Duke's Estates #3
Author: Jane Ashford
Published August 23rd 2022 by Sourcebooks Casablanca

Goodreads Synopsis
Jane Ashford brings you straight to the English countryside in her newest Regency romance. Perfect for readers of Mary Balogh, Ella Quinn, and fans of Bridgerton, this historical romance features:

• A young woman trying to do the right thing
• An earl's son whose clumsiness is their downfall
• A scandal that turns the haute ton upside down
• The undeniable spark that transforms a blunder into a tender connection

Sarah Moran's attempt to save Kenver Pendrennon—the heir of an earl—as he slips off the Cornwall cliffs, sends them both into each other's arms and into the sea. Now, marriage may be the only option to keep a scandal at bay. But what started as a terrible mistake may be exactly what both of them needs...
Goodreads

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

As she walks along a cliffside to hide from her meddling family, Sarah Moran slips, and falls onto the beach with a handsome stranger. As the stranger takes the brunt of the impact, he's injured, and needs help moving from the sea. Finding no way back from the secluded beach, Sarah drags Kenver into a sheltered cave, and they spend the night in each other's arms. Now with no way around it, they are forced to marry to protect Sarah's reputation, and she realises that Kenver is not just a gentleman, but the heir to an Earldom. Though they might be happy, and pleasantly surprised, with their marriage, it's clear that Kenver's parents are against it, and will do just about anything to force the marriage to fail.

I really enjoyed this book, much more than I thought I would to be honest. I liked Sarah and Kenver, and the way their romance progressed from the first meeting, to falling in love and revealing their feelings to each other. The main thing I disliked about the book was Kenver's reticence and subservience to his awful parents. The Earl and Countess were some of the worst in laws I've read, and for a large part of Blame it on the Earl, Kenver listened to them, and didn't stand up for himself, or his wife. It was great when the Tereford's showed up, and you saw the Countess pandering to their every whim. I'm glad that they are such a tie in the series, and hope they'll be a big part of book 4 too. While not my favourite of the series - that's still book 1 - Blame it on the Earl was enjoyable, and a quick read.

Dates Read:
September 11, 2022

Rating
4 Stars

Blame It on the Earl

Waiting on Wednesday: Blame It on the Earl (The Duke's Estates #3) by Jane Ashford

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4 Stars

ARC Review: Earl on the Run (The Duke's Estates #2) by Jane Ashford

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Earl on the Run
Series: The Duke's Estates #2
Author: Jane Ashford
Published February 22nd 2022 by Sourcebooks Casablanca

Goodreads Synopsis
Regency fans can rejoice in a brand-new historical romance from Jane Ashford!

Pulled from his comfortable life in Boston by agents who insist he's the Earl of Ferrington, Jonathan Frederick Merrill―Jack to everyone else―arrives in London only to face a torrent of criticism from his great-grandmother. Angry and hurt, Jack resolves to have one look at his ancestral home, and then return to America.

Harriet Finch has been carried off to her wealthy grandfather's country house, where she's seething with rebellion. She spends her days pacing the grounds, fantasizing about a way to escape the life her grandfather has planned. There she meets an intriguing, handsome rogue. What better way to flout her grandfather's rules than to flirt with a stranger he would never approve of? But when she learns Jack's true identity, Harriet is stunned and furious at the deception! Her grandfather is delighted and insists she marry the new earl.

Can Harriet accept Jack's promise to marry her when she wants nothing more than to be free, and is Jack willing to pay the price of nobility if it means he'll have to stay in England?
Goodreads

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

After travelling to England, to meet his paternal family for the first time, and learning he is the new Earl of Ferrington, Jack Merrill is disappointed to face a stream of criticism from those who should love him. Deciding he deserved better than to put up with a harridan with a sharp tongue, Jack flees London, and finds himself joining a group of Travellers, learning more about their customs and culture, of which his mother had been a part of. When they arrive close to his country seat, Jack meets a girl living at a local home, Harriet, who he falls for. But he hasn't been truthful, and will she forgive him, when it's clear she dislikes aristocrats? Harriet spent her life living in genteel poverty, after her grandfather shunned her mother for marrying a clerk from his trading company. When her grandfather's only male heir dies, he appears in their lives again, and tells Harriet he will make her his heir, but only if she marries well - especially a title. Wanting to make her mother happy, and less anxious, Harriet agrees, but her feelings for Jack the Rogue stand in the way. When the truth is revealed, she's hurt, but can she go through with a marriage to save her mam?

I was intrigued by the plot of the missing earl when it was mentioned in The Duke Who Loved Me, so couldn't wait to read the book about said earl. This was such a quick and enjoyable read. I felt like the main characters, Jack and Harriet, had fantastic characteristics, and their chapters really suited them. Both wanted to learn about their families, and find somewhere to belong, and when they found the other person who seemed to be made for them, it was like a dream. But the secret keeping was always there in the background, and when it came out, it was understandable for the angst it caused. However, the chemistry and depth of feeling between Jack and Harriet was enough to withstand this blip, and hopefully they'll have a happily ever after, and we'll meet them in the future. Another thing I loved was that James and Cecelia (from book 1) were very instrumental in the story. Normally that doesn't happen with historical books, but it was wonderful to see how they were doing as a married couple. I reckon we'll probably see them in the third book too, which I think will be in Cornwall, where they were travelling to in the epilogue.

Dates Read:
December 30-31, 2021

Rating
4 Stars

2021 New Release challenge

ARC Review: The Duke Who Loved Me (The Duke's Estates #1) by Jane Ashford

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The Duke Who Loved Me
Series: The Duke's Estates #1
Author: Jane Ashford
Published August 24th 2021 by Sourcebooks Casablanca

Goodreads Synopsis
The Duke of Tereford is accustomed to getting his own way, but she's going to teach him a thing or two about love...

James Cantrell, the new Duke of Tereford, has inherited a dukedom in disarray and is overwhelmed by his unaccustomed responsibilities. Then he gets an idea. Cecelia Vainsmede served as liaison between James and her father, and she knows a great deal about business matters, his own in particular. She's also quite pretty. Ever the pragmatist, he suggests a marriage of convenience.

Cecelia has always been good at working with James, but she doesn't understand how he can be so obtuse. He clearly doesn't realize that he's the duke she's always wished for, or that his offer is an insult. But when a German prince arrives in London and immediately sets out to woo Cecelia, James will have to come to terms with what he really feels for her. Is running away worth the cost of losing her, or will the duke dare to win her once and for all?

Bestselling author Jane Ashford takes you to a dazzling Regency England you won't want to leave!
Goodreads

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

James Cantrell may now be the Duke of Tereford, but since he was 15, he was under the guardianship of his father's friend, Nigel Vainsmede. Both of them butted heads regularly, and it was only when the then nine year old, Cecelia, only daughter of Vainsmede, started to intercede in their quarrels, that anything was solved. And since then, Cecelia has always smoothed the troubles, and helped James, even when he didn't need the help. But now, as the newly inherited duke, he has a whole townhouse full of oddities, stuffed to the brim by his eccentric predecessor, and the rest of the ducal properties to boot. He needs Cecelia's help to bring the estate up to scratch, and soon gets it in his head that the perfect duchess for him, is in fact Cecelia. But when a German duke visits London, and seems to have his eye on Miss Vainsmede, James' work may be cut out for him. And for Cecelia, she's been in love with James since she was young, but now, she can't believe his proposal to be real, and it's breaking her hurt to turn him down. Will she see the real James hidden beneath his bluster and facade, or will she lose her heart completely.

This book was hands down, amazing! As soon as I had started it, I was gripped by the banter and chemistry between Cecelia and James, who had known each other for years, and had a relationship that was perfect. I loved seeing James' growth as well. He started off as a cocky rogue, who expected everyone to think the same as him, and anyone who thought different, was utter nonsense. He got it in his head that he and Cecelia should marry, and proposed in an abysmal way, so it was no real shock when she declined. I felt like he needed that, and the upset that occurred a little later with the prince, to fully grow. Seeing him in his home, digging through the rubbish, and caring for a homeless family who lived in the stables, we truly saw James as the caring person who was hidden beneath. And as for Cecelia, she had been in charge of her father's household since her mother died, mainly because her father only cared about food, or his philosophical work. She had had a few seasons, and proposals to boot, but had turned them all down, hoping for love - really, hoping for James. She gets a group of friends in the early pages of the books, and the four of them - Charlotte, Ada, Harriet, and Sarah - with Cecelia, were truly lovely to read. I've just read the synopsis for book 2, Earl on the Run, and am glad to see it will be Harriet's story. The friends, and James, all rally around Cecelia when the prince comes calling, and there's a scandal afoot. One of the only things I could say against this book would be that there was a lot of miscommunication between James and Cecelia, especially towards the end, and I felt like they should've definitely been open about their feelings for one another a lot earlier. Even so, I can't wait for Earl on the Run, and will be reading as a many of Jane's back catalogue as possible!

Dates Read:
August 7, 2021

Rating
4 Stars