Sophie Reads YA: Sophie Barnes

2023 Beat the Backlist challenge

ARC Review: Mr. Clarke's Deepest Desire (Enterprising Scoundrels #2) by Sophie Barnes

11:00

Mr. Clarke's Deepest Desire
Series: Enterprising Scoundrels #2
Author: Sophie Barnes
Published November 22nd 2022 by Sophie Barnes

Goodreads Synopsis
When an earl's daughter falls for a businessman in this secret identities Regency romance, she risks more than heartbreak when his connection to her past threatens her reputation...

How can he build a future with a woman whose father ruined his life?

Having recently suffered the death of her father, Rosamund Parker faces an uncertain future. Intent on retaining her independence, she plans to invest her modest inheritance. But the man whose help she seeks is as infuriating as he is handsome. For reasons she can't comprehend, he's set on thwarting her at every turn, even as he tempts her with kisses she ought not want.

Matthew Clarke needs funding for his locomotive business, but he'll not accept it from the Earl of Stoneburrow's daughter. As far as Matthew's concerned, that entire family can go hang. Unfortunately, Lady Rosamund seems to pop up wherever he goes. Ignoring the fire she stirs in him becomes an increasing challenge. But surrendering to it could prove disastrous. It could in fact ruin both their lives...
Goodreads

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

Lady Rosamund Parker's life is rocked when her father's will stipulates that she only has £500 to live on, until she marries and her dowry is available. No one is allowed to help her, not even her uncle, the new Earl of Stoneburrow. So she decides to invest in a promising engineering firm, but the owner, Matthew Clarke wants nothing from her. He was the hall boy once, and after the late Earl abused his mother, they were thrown out with nothing. However, Rosamund is not one to give up lightly, and when they are in company together at a house party, there's a growing attraction that the pair can't seem to fight any longer.

I enjoyed this one more than the first book, I think. Rosamund and Matthew's story was a believable one, and their connection and chemistry was clear to see. Neither of them went into their meetings wanting anything from each other, certainly not a relationship, but their initially grudging respect and admiration soon allowed them to let their feelings grow and blossom into something they needed to explore. A quick read, great for people who enjoy Regency romances.

Dates Read:
January 29, 2023

Rating
3 Stars

2022 New Release challenge

ARC Review: Mr. Donahue's Total Surrender (Enterprising Scoundrels #1) by Sophie Barnes

10:00

Mr. Donahue's Total Surrender
Series: Enterprising Scoundrels #1
Author: Sophie Barnes
Published January 25th 2022 by Sophie Barnes

Goodreads Synopsis
Calista Faulkner had a plan: go to England, get married, and save her father from ruin. Instead, she’s now stuck in London, penniless and without the husband she’d pinned her hopes on. Desperate to return home, she seeks employment at a hotel—as a scullery maid—a far cry from the social status she has otherwise been accustomed to. But when a chance encounter with the hotel’s owner, Mr. Donahue, leads to a change in fortune, and her acquaintance with him deepens, a new problem arises. For Calista knows she must return home and marry a man she hates in order to save her family’s reputation. But how can she leave behind the man she's falling in love with? How can she marry anyone else?
Goodreads

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

Leaving America was a risk Calista Faulkner took, but not lightly. Hoping to arrive in England and marry, and be able to save her family from ruin, she's devastated to find that her prospective husband has died, and she has no one, and nowhere to turn to. Taking up work as a scullery maid - the only job available to her - it's clear she's in over her head. So when the owner of the hotel she works at, Mr. Donahue, crosses her path, and rescues her from her misery, she's now conflicted in her feelings for him

I found this book a real quick and fun read. Calista hoped to save her family from an awful man back home, who was ready to ruin them or for her to marry. She found hope in England, but as it went wrong she had to use all her resilience to survive. I liked the dynamic between her and Steven, and though it was initially one with a power imbalance, it soon became obvious there was mutual respect and affection between them. A nice read, and I look forward to the companion book in the future.

Dates Read:
November 8, 2022

Rating
3 Stars

2023 Beat the Backlist challenge

ARC Review: The Roguish Baron (Diamonds in the Rough #9) by Sophie Barnes

12:00

The Roguish Baron
Series: Diamonds in the Rough #9
Author: Sophie Barnes
Published May 24th 2022 by Sophie Barnes

Goodreads Synopsis
When a rakish scoundrel decides to pursue the woman he loves in this friends to lovers Regency romance, he risks his father's disapproval... and the consequence this will have on his future.

He had to risk losing her so he would realize how much he loved her…

Jack Lancaster, Baron Hawthorne, hasn’t been home in four years. He’s been too busy running from his emotions. So when he finally does return and discovers his childhood friend, Sophia Fenmore, has gotten engaged, he’s not only shocked, but determined to change her mind and make her his.

Sophia has always known Jack was out of her league. But she valued his friendship, until he broke her heart. Now he's back, as eager to charm her as she is to thwart him. For as much as she’d like to believe Jack has changed, she cannot risk taking a chance on a rogue. Unless of course, he proves himself worthy.

A daring forbidden love romance from a USA Today bestselling author
Goodreads

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

After being away from home for four years, Jack Lancaster, Baron Hawthorne, has returned ready to see his sisters make their debut. He's missed them, and his friends, but especially his best friend Sophia Fenmore. So discovering that she is engaged, when all he's ever wanted is her, he's determined to make her change her mind. But will their differing stations in life force them apart?

I had completely forgotten that I had this book still to read until I was scheduling some blog posts, and remembered about the series. Though The Roguish Baron is classed as book 9 in the series, it's more of a novella, and I believe it was once part of an anthology too. Anyway, this was a really quick and enjoyable read, though not one that will make you think, nor particularly stay with you long afterward. I love the trope of childhood friends to lovers, which was done very well in this case. Sophia was the adoptive daughter of the local vicar and his wife, whereas Jack was the son of an Earl and Countess. They'd been friends so years, and their families were close, though when Jack realised that Sophia was growing up, and his father told him they would never be able to be together, he fled his, so angry at his father for his ultimatum to be disinherited. Sophia had always loved Jack, and was gutted when he left without a word, but she went along with the faux/real engagement to her 'brother' - the vicar's biological son - as a way to sort of get Jack to see her. I didn't really like that aspect, nor the fact that Jack went stupid when he became jealous, but I liked that he fought to be with her. The 'twist' was predictable, and I'd have been surprised, honestly, if it wasn't there. Even so, this was an enjoyable story to read in less than an hour.

Dates Read:
January 1, 2023

Rating
3 Stars

2021 New Release challenge