Blog Tour Stop: The Duke with the Dragon Tattoo by Kerrigan Byrne

The Duke with the Dragon Tattoo

by Kerrigan Byrne

Series: Victorian Rebels #6

Genres: Historical Romance
Publisher: St. Martin's Press

Publication Date: August 28th 2018
Source: ARC received for review
Rating: ★★★1/2

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The bravest of heroes. The brashest of rebels. The boldest of lovers. These are the men who risk their hearts and their souls—for the passionate women who dare to love them…
He is known only as The Rook. A man with no name, no past, no memories. He awakens in a mass grave, a magnificent dragon tattoo on his muscled forearm the sole clue to his mysterious origins. His only hope for survival—and salvation—lies in the deep, fiery eyes of the beautiful stranger who finds him. Who nurses him back to health. And who calms the restless demons in his soul…
A LEGENDARY LOVE
Lorelei will never forget the night she rescued the broken dark angel in the woods, a devilishly handsome man who haunts her dreams to this day. Crippled as a child, she devoted herself to healing the poor tortured man. And when he left, he took a piece of her heart with him. Now, after all these years, The Rook has returned. Like a phantom, he sweeps back into her life and avenges those who wronged her. But can she trust a man who’s been branded a rebel, a thief, and a killer? And can she trust herself to resist him when he takes her in his arms?

"So what is it about this duke?" // It's All About the Duke by Amelia Grey

It's All About the Duke

by Amelia Grey

Series: The Rakes of St. James #3

Genres: Historical Romance

Publisher: St. Martin's Paperbacks

Publication Date: May 29th 2018

Source: ARC received for review

Rating: ★★★★

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Nearing thirty, the Duke of Rathburne is finally ready to make amends for the wager that caused him and his best friends such scandal―but taking on a ward who needs a husband is a feat he’s not sure he can manage. The last he saw of Miss Marlena Fast, she was a spirited little ruffian, not the sort of bride most bachelors on the marriage mart sought. But one glance at the lovely lady she has become is enough to convince him otherwise…

Orphaned young and shuffled from family to family, Marlena counts on her fierce independence and quick wits to keep herself content. Being the responsibility of a notoriously wicked duke who upended so many lives is an unexpected challenge when she realizes he arouses her decidedly feminine desires. Marlena must be careful. She has her own scandalous secret to protect. If he finds out, will it shatter her chances of a happily-ever-after with the notorious rake?

I've never read any of Amelia Grey's previous works before, and It's All About the Duke was a great introduction to her writing because this book charmed from start to finish, and it's all because of the characters.

I love both Rath and Marlena. Marlena especially is totally adorable and she has my heart. She's young and innocent, but I like that she's not a pushover, and she has no problems speaking her mind in Rath's presence. I also love her loyalty to her friends Eugenia and Veronica. I mean, she started a gossip column and wrote a book for them! Although the reason for it was mainly fueled by teenage fury, I still admired her sense of loyalty to her loved ones. I also love her unconventionality, and her relationship with her chaperone, Justine. Justine can be so annoying sometimes, but Marlena is such a sweet-tempered girl, she deals with Justine so calmly. I would have been tempted to cause Justine bodily harm.

The first chapter described Rath as someone older and wiser, a reformed rake. He's a bit mellow now that his two best friends and fellow pranksters have found love and happily settled down. In the first chapter he did a bit of reflecting; he acknowledged that while he was competent with ducal responsibilities, he wasn't the perfect gentleman his father had hoped he would be and he regretted that, especially after the prank he and his friends played on the ladies of the ton a few years back. I really liked how the chapter ended with Rath feeling determined to be the perfect guardian to Marlena, to help her find a husband and marry. 

"He could be a rake if he looks so deeply into your eyes you know he sees all the way to your soul."

The major reason why this book worked for me is Rath and Marlena's relationship development. Marlena especially had some notions about Rath after the whole prank that affected the lives of her friends. She had been dragging his name and the other Rakes of St. James through the mud with her scandal sheet for a few years, so imagine her surprise when they finally met and Rath wasn't a complete ogre of a man. In fact, he was a perfect gentleman??? I love seeing her feeling all sorts of conflicted because Rath turned out to be a...*gasp* nice man??? how is this happening??? and he was apparently not the shameless rake she has her whole column based upon. The more time they spent together the more she liked him, and she started to dread the upcoming Season because the only man she wanted to spend her life with was the man she wasn't supposed to fall for.

Rath was instantly charmed by Marlena from the moment they met. He had no chance; Marlena was super cute and witty, and there was a spark between them in the first meeting. Boy, that did a number on him and his senses too. Like, here is his new ward, of whom he was supposed to look after and see that she married well, and he only wanted her for himself. There is a little hint of forbidden romance in the story because of the whole guardian/ward thing, but overall it was so entertaining to see Marlena and Rath fell in love with each other despite reasons. I sighed at all the stolen moments (and kisses!) they shared.

"I know we shouldn't kissed. It doesn't keep me from wanting to."

Overall, It's All About the Duke has been a fun read, and I'm so glad I requested to read it. Amelia also wrote a HEA for Marlena's friends, and I appreciate that so much because the girls definitely deserved all the happiness. The epilogue had me smiling because it was so satisfying and wrapped up the book perfectly. I'm definitely going to check out Griffin's and Hawk's books next.

*Quotes taken from ARC. 

What's your latest historical romance read?

Tell me in the comments!

Blog Tour Stop: A Duke Like No Other by Valerie Bowman

A Duke Like No Other 

by Valerie Bowman

Series: Playful Brides #9

Genres: Historical Romance

Publisher: St. Martin's Press

Publication Date: May 1st 2018

Source: ARC for review

Rating: ★★★★

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First comes love, then comes marriage. Unless it’s the other way around...
General Mark Grimaldi has sacrificed everything for his military career, working his way through the ranks without the benefit of a nobleman’s title. Now, his years of dedication are about to pay off—with an offer for a prestigious promotion to Home Secretary. There’s only one condition: Mark must be married. Aside from the small matter of not actually wanting to be wed, Mark faces another troubling problem: he already has a wife.
Nicole Huntington Grimaldi has spent ten contented years in France without her husband—and without regret. When Mark asks her to return to London and play the part of his beloved wife, she sees her chance. But neither of them is prepared for news that will throw Mark’s future into chaos...nor the undeniable desire they’ve rekindled.
Maybe happily-ever-after can happen the second time around in A Duke Like No Other, the next Regency romance from Valerie Bowman.

♪♪ We'll have a happy ending now / Taking a chance on love ♪♪

Happy Thursday!

Wow, it feels like forever since my last Thursday post/wrap-up thingy. And wow, it’s October, how did that happen?

Life update: I turned 27 on Sept 20^th! Honestly 27 doesn’t feel any different than 26… It’s kind of sad that birthdays lose their specialty as you get older. I didn’t do anything special on my birthday as it was a school day, but getting birthday wishes was still pretty exciting. Also, I’ve turned in the first full draft of my Master’s thesis to my supervisor so she can go through it and give her feedback. I’m expecting at least two more edits before the thing’s ready to be submitted—I’m so having a pizza party for one the day I submit my thesis, truly.

September reading recap: It’s been a good reading month for me, I think. There were so many September releases that I enjoyed. For one, A Kiss in Lavender by Laura Florand is my 5-star read this month; it exceeded my high expectations and I wrote a long email gushing to Laura about it. I’m going to reread it before writing my review here sometime soon. Acting on Impulse by Mia Sosa is also a very great one and pretty much flawless, and so is Completely by Ruthie Knox. Lastly, Jennifer Dawson’s latest, Head Over Heels is also a winner for me. I wrote my review almost immediately after I finished because I had so many emotions about it, which literally never happen to me—unlike books I dislike, it usually takes two reads for me to properly review a book that I love. I want to make sure that I cover everything, LOL.

October has some pretty exciting releases too, and I’m looking forward to a greater reading month.

Today I'll be reviewing two titles that share a common theme: taking a chance on love. The heroes and heroines in both books are stubborn and have their own reasons as to why they think love is too good to be true, but love (and HEAs!) can be just as stubborn. I'll just stop here before I get too corny but proceed for the mini reviews! 

Review: Smooth-Talking Stranger by Lisa Kleypas

SMOOTH-TALKING STRANGER
by Lisa Kleypas
Series: The Travises #3
Genres: Contemporary
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Publication Date: March 31st 2009
Source: Bought
Rating: ★★★★★
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Jack Travis leads the uncomplicated life of a millionaire Texas playboy. He makes no commitments, he loves many women, he lives for pleasure. But no one has ever truly touched his heart or soul.

Until one day, a woman appears on his doorstep with fury on her face and a baby in her arms. It seems Jack is the father and this woman is the baby’s aunt.

The real mother has abandoned the child to her more responsible sister. And now, Jack is being called upon to take responsibility for the first time in his life.

With delicious romantic tension, characters so real they walk onto the page and into your heart, Lisa Kleypas delivers the kind of novel that makes you laugh, love; cry and cheer.

Review: Blue-Eyed Devil by Lisa Kleypas

BLUE-EYED DEVIL
by Lisa Kleypas
Series: The Travises #1
Genres: Contemporary
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Publication Date: March 25th 2008
Source: Bought
Rating: ★★★★★
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MEET THE BLUE-EYED DEVIL - His name is Hardy Cates. He's a self-made millionaire who comes from the wrong side of the tracks. He's made enemies in the rough-and-tumble ride to the top of Houston's oil industry. He's got hot blood in his veins. And vengeance on his mind.

MEET THE HEIRESS - She's Haven Travis. Despite her family's money, she refuses to set out on the path they've chosen for her. But when Haven marries a man her family disapproves of, her life is set on a new and dangerous course. Two years later, Haven comes home, determined to guard her heart. And Hardy Cates, a family enemy, is the last person she needs darkening her door or setting her soul on fire.

WATCH THE SPARKS FLY....Filled with Lisa Kleypas's trademark sensuality, filled with characters you love to hate and men you love to love, Blue-Eyed Devil will hold you captive in its storytelling power as the destiny of two people unfolds with every magical word.