Having very much enjoyed Manda Collins’s Ugly Ducklings and Wicked Widows series, I looked forward to reading her latest Lords of Anarchy series. Although I was sadly disappointed with the first book, “A Good Rake is Hard to Find”, I did like secondary characters Lord Mainwaring and Lady Hermione Upperton and wanted to read their story. So I was delighted to be offered an ARC to review.
Source: Received from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review
(Lords of Anarchy, #2)
Genre: Historical Romance (Regency)
Cover Blurb:
TEMPTING FATE
Marriage? To a gambler? You must be joking! Yet Lady Hermione Upperton has never backed down from a challenge. When her spendthrift father offers her at the gaming tables, she is given a difficult choice—wed the Earl of Mainwaring, an infamous gamester with no respect for her skills with the reins, or face charges for the murder of a member of the infamous Lords of Anarchy. Either way she’ll have to clear her name. Can she count on her husband’s help the way she has begun to count on his kisses?
RISKING ROMANCE
All Jasper Fawley, the Earl of Mainwaring, wanted was a night of cards. But by the end of the evening he’s walked away with a fortune—and a bride who’s suspected of murder. Jasper knows Hermione is passionate about her unorthodox membership in the Lords of Anarchy, but he’s certain she would never kill to keep it. Can he protect his headstrong wife from prosecution and a ruthless killer without endangering both their hearts in the process?
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This is Grace Burrowes…need I to say more?
Source: Purchased from Amazon Kindle
(Captive Hearts, #1)
Genre: Historical Romance (Regency)
Cover Blurb:
He’ll never be free…
Captured and tortured by the French, Christian Severn, Duke of Mercia, survives by vowing to take revenge on his tormentors. Before the duke can pursue his version of justice, Gillian, Countess of Greendale, reminds him that his small daughter has suffered much in his absence, and needs her papa desperately.
Until he surrenders his heart…
Gilly endured her difficult marriage by avoiding confrontation and keeping peace at any cost. Christian’s devotion to his daughter and his kindness toward Gilly give her hope that she could enjoy a future with him, for surely he of all men shares her loathing for violence in any form. Little does Gilly know, the battle for Christian’s heart is only beginning.
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Lucinda Brant’s books have been highly recommended to me
Source: Free from Amazon Kindle
(Roxton Family Saga, #1)
Genre: Historical Romance (Georgian)
Cover Blurb:
NEW 2014 EDITION (revised, re-edited, re-covered)
France and England in the age of hedonism and enlightenment
A green-eyed beauty is abandoned at the court of Versailles
The predatory Comte de Salvan plots her seduction
An all-powerful adversary snatches her to safety
But is he noble savior or a satyr most despicable?
Antonia is pursued by the lascivious Comte de Salvan who wants her as a mistress. When the libertine Duke of Roxton snatches her from Salvan’s clutches, she believes herself rescued. Has she merely swapped one seducer for another? Will Roxton save Antonia from the Comte? Can Antonia save the Duke from himself?
A classic romance in the tradition of Georgette Heyer, Noble Satyr pays homage to Heyer’s These Old Shades.
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Source: Novella given as a gift only to author’s newsletter subscribers.
(A Farthingale Novella)
Genre: Historical Romance (Regency)
Cover Blurb:
Lady Evangeline Cameron, granddaughter of the powerful Duke of Lotheil, is holding out for one man’s love, but the only thing George Farthingale knows when it comes to Evie is that he must not kiss her. No matter how much he wants to. Find out if Evie and George find love in If You Kissed Me.
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Source: Free from Amazon Kindle
(The Rogues of Ravensmuir, 1)
Genre: Historical Romance (14th Century)
Cover Blurb:
Dear Reader:
Seductive and mysterious, Merlyn was the laird of Ravensmuir — never had a man so stirred my body and soul. I gave myself to him — willingly, trustingly, passionately — and we soon wed. Then a horrible revelation emerged, shattering my innocence and my marriage…
Five years later, Merlyn returned to my doorstep, desperate for my help. The scoundrel swore he was haunted by memories of me, that a treasure locked in Ravensmuir could clear his name. Yet I could not surrender to his will again. Now he is said to be murdered and Ravensmuir has fallen into my hands.
But even as I cross the threshold of this cursed keep, I hear his whisper in the darkness, feel his caress in the night, and I know that Merlyn has told me but part of his tale. Should I do as is right and expose his lair? Or dare I trust my alluring but deceptive spouse – the rogue who destroyed my heart?
— Ysabella
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Rakes And Rascals 
I’m almost done with Lords of Anarchy #2. I like it much more than the first one. It’s intriguing though there isn’t a lot of action. Jasper and Hermione are a cute couple. Jasper is sort of a man of mystery.
Katinka, I’m glad to hear that the second book is much better. I was really looking forward to reading “A Good Rake is Hard to Find” but the romance just felt flat somehow.
Okay, well, I finished the novel just moments ago. It had an intriguing start but towards the end the romance felt flat to me as well. It was hard to get through the last 40% of the novel. I’m not sure you will like it much better than book 1 after all, but maybe you will have a different take on it.
We have a saying here – “One man’s meat is another man’s poison”. Perhaps I might have a different take on it, as you say. We shall see because I plan to read it in September.
There are so many wonderful books to read, I can’t keep up. I’ve been meaning to read one of Meara Platt’s books. Time to put it on the schedule for October.
I know exactly what you mean, Eileen. According to my “to-read” shelf on Goodreads, I have 271 books to read.
I have collected that Grace Burrowes series & have to get to it. I love that cover so much!
Sharlene, I have quite a number of Grace’s books from earlier series to read but, as you say, it’s just getting to them!
I am pretty excited for Good Earl Gone Bad….I just loved those two in the first one and boy the verbal sparring was fun.
Renee, I was disappointed with the first book but I did love Mainwaring and Hermione and have high expectations of this one.