#anna bradley

[triviareads]

ARC Review of Give the Devil His Duke by Anna Bradley

Summary:

Francesca Stanhope is content with being a wallflower during her one and only season. She does not count on catching the attention of Giles, the Duke of Basingstoke, nor the ton at large. Giles is all but engaged to Francesca's cousin Susannah, in a bid to lessen the decades-long hostility between the two families. The machinations of a gossip columnist force them to come to a détente for Susannah and his sister's sake, but what they don't count on is the mutual attraction growing between them.

My review:

I LOVED this book! Loved it. It's my first by Anna Bradley and I will definitely be reading more of her. Let me get into what worked for me:

First the characters: Francesca was a perfect combination of world-weary and innocent. Life dealt her a hard hand, but she's determined to push through, somehow. A scrappy gal, if you will. She doesn't automatically give into society's demands, nor Giles's for that matter (but not in a bratty way, if that makes sense? Like, girlie has her pride and is just trying to get by). So when she successfully blackmails her terrible uncle, you can't help but applaud, you know?

Giles is kind of a bitch in the beginning but it works because you know exactly where he's coming from: he's so hot and blond and a duke so nobody's ever said no to him. You see that start to change (or his better angels are revealed) as he interacts more with Francesca, and his final weeks-long grovel (yes! there is a grovel— an excellent grovel) cements that change.

The plot was tight and well-done. Francesca just wants to get through the season, and maybe reconnect with her estranged cousin, but the gossip columnist and the gossip that the ton circulates about Francesca and Giles messes with that. What's interesting is that Giles faces a lot of social consequences (potential and real) because of the fickleness of the ton, even if typically, I'd be inclined to assume the man would get off easier than the woman. This might be attributed to Giles's late father being The Worst (it's implied he sexually assaulted Francesca's mother, and then he killed Fran's father in a duel afterwards), and the entire ton knew it. Ultimately, Circumstances get so out of hand Giles asks Francesca to marry him, and the final portion of the plot concerns them having to navigate a marriage that was proposed to mitigate rumors, but it's a delicate thing because they have very real feelings for one another.

Let me take this opportunity to scream about the chemistry. THE CHEMISTRY. It's there. It's EXCELLENT. Because Giles is a slutty slutty hero, he's obviously deeply aware of Francesca right off the bat, even while he's technically almost engaged to her cousin (but that adds to the forbidden-ness of it all, right?). However, what I loved was that Francesca was equally aware of Giles, even when she went through various periods of dislike for him. She fixates on his mouth a lot. She has vague sex dreams. SPEAKING of sex dreams—

The sex:

Fabulous. Very hot. Because of their natural chemistry right off the bat, even in tender scenes, like when Francesca runs out during a musicale and Giles comforts her, there's this layer of sexual awareness present, which makes for very promising follow-through.

And there is great follow-through. Reading Giles and Francesca crack after just a couple days apart and unable to contain themselves was great. Same for their wedding night and perhaps most importantly, during make-up sex.

I think this is one of those situations where what makes the sex good isn't the wildness of the sex acts, but it genuinely comes down to two people you get the sense are constantly, deeply aware of one another, and constantly want to fuck, even when they're on the outs.

Overall:

I would strongly recommend this book for literally every HR reader. On the surface, it seems like a standard ballroom romance, and it is, to a degree. But it's the characters and their arcs that really make the book special, along with the natural chemistry (have I said this word too many times? ah well.) between Francesca and Giles that manifests itself in the dialogue, in their actions, in the sex, etc. Go read this asap.

Thank you to Kensington Books and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review.

[pollyssecretlibrary]

“The Virgin Who Ruined Lord Gray”, by Anna Bradley

I read this book from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review

RELEASE DATE - OCTOBER 297th

3.5 STARS/HEARTS/KITTEN/WHATEVER

This is the first book of a new series entitled “The Swooning Virgins Society”, a title inspired by Anne Radcliffe’s books, especially “The Romance of the Forest” which is the book that the girls in the story are reading together. This is a series about a group of girls who live at Lady Clifford’s school for wayward girls… but the school is not what it seems.

What to expect from this book? It’s a novel that is inspired by gothic novels, there are even references to some of the writers of the time in it, it has a gothic feel to it. But it also reminds me of old detective and murder stories, the settings and environment of the story made me think of Sherlock Holmes and Jack The Ripper or Doctor Jeckyll and Mr. Hyde. Not that the story has anything to do with any of them but the feeling of underlying anger, fear, misery and danger is there. It’s so exciting.

It’s 1793. ‘The Virgin Who Ruined Lord Gray’ begins one night when Lord Gray, the former Bow Street Runner known as The Ghost of Bow Street,  is staring out of his window and suddenly he spots a young boy lying on his neighbor’s roof. Thinking that he might be a thief, Tristan, Lord Gray, goes out to chase the lad who is actually pursuing another man. The third man leads them to the place where Tristan’s best friend was murdered, but before the boy could do anything to the man, Tristan catches him only to discover that the boy is actually a young lady.

Sophia is trying to find out who framed Jeremy, a friend she loves like a brother, for murder when a giant man trapped her. She thinks Jeremy is innocent, while Tristan is convinced that the young man is guilty. This is the story of two people trying to solve the same murder from opposing angles each of them. On top of that Tristan thinks that Sophia has something to do with the whole thing.

Sophia is a brave young woman. She witnessed the murder of her own mother in Seven Dials, one of the worst parts of London, when she was only six. She is the first of the girls that took shelter at Lady Clifford’s school. The school is actually a cover, the girls are given an education but they are also trained to fight and solve mysteries in order to bring justice to corrupt powerful men. Sophia moves like a ninja, so to speak, she’s agile, she’s fast, she’s smart, and she’s resourceful. She is the one closest to Jeremy, a simple young man who works for the school, so that’s why she choses his case, she is the one who will save him from Newgate and the scaffold.

Tristan is described as very handsome and big, with a scar on his face and more in his fingers. He’s quite serious and severe. He hates the fact that after his brother’s demise he inherited an earldom and thus had to give up a job that he loved and that he was good at, more than that. He was the best and the most famous of the Runners. But before he leaves London for his estate and affairs, he elongates his work with the Runners because he wants to see the one who killed his best friend hanging from a rope.

Sophia and Tristan meet during a chase and will have to work together to solve the case. But before that happens they will have to learn to trust each other while at the same time love is knocking on their doors.

Speaking of love, this romance is a slow burn one. Because they’re enemies, they are on such terms that they’ll need to find common ground before even having the chance to fall in love, there’s sexual tension and attraction right from the start, but not love. Because they can see each other quite clearly, virtues and faults, but they can’t see each other’s hearts. They’re too far apart for that. Enemies to lovers at its purest.

[cathygeha]

More or Less a Countess by Anna Bradley

The Somerset Sister #2

 Awkward, tone deaf, klutzy, brilliant Violet Somerset has given up on marriage after her first year on the marriage market. Instead her dream is to write and illustrate a book and with that in mind she is willing to risk life and limb to go to sometimes unsavory places to get her sketches. Nobody really understands her quest to write the book of her dreams but her sisters Iris and Hyacinth support her as they can.

 One night Lord Dare, Nicholas or Nick to his friends, shows up for an evening event at his friend’s home…a friend that Violet had a crush on until HER friend ended up married to Lord Derrick crushing Violet’s dreams. Lord Dare, in need of an heir, thinks Hyacinth might be suitable with her ability to play Haydn on the pianoforte with such ease and beauty. Well, Violet is not willing to let her sister be courted by a roguish rake so when Nick mistakes Violet for Hyacinth she does not open his eyes and tell him who she really is.

 No matter who tells Violet she is playing with fire by keeping the fake name of her sister she won’t listen. No, she uses Lord Dare for her own reasons to get…sketches. And, the house of cards she builds thinking, nobody will be hurt, does eventually come tumbling down at about midway through the book. With both Nick and Violet keeping secrets and hiding how they really feel it takes quite a bit of time for them to work out a way to be happy together but in the end…it is oh so very worth the pain they go through to get there.

 I loved the interactions between Nick and Violet whether funny or steamy. The fact that Nick was not turned off by a bluestocking but intrigued instead said a lot. The issues from his childhood and hers from her year in society worked against them both. Their jumps to conclusions without communicating with one another were also a problem they needed to learn to surmount. I really enjoyed this book and the way it all came together. I wanted to smack one or the other a time or two but only to make them see sense.

 Did I like this book? Definitely

Do I want to read Hyacinth’s story? Without a doubt

Is there anything I didn’t like in the book? Can’t think of anything.

 Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books – Lyrical Press for the ARC ~ this is my honest review.

 5 Stars

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/37678674-more-or-less-a-countess

[mariaslozak]

It’s not every day a romance novel cover makes me choke on my coffee. No, Lady Eleanor, he’s most decidedly not worth waiting for.

With a pretty model swirling her dress in the foreground most readers probably won’t blink at the painting on the wall behind her - unless they squint and notice the pipe moustache. If I was the author, though, I’m afraid I would be very unhappy with the marketing department for letting this blunder slip by. And not merely because the novel is a Regency and the portrait is not.

The man depicted is Napoleon III, monarch of the Second French Empire (1852-1870), painted in 1855 by Franz Xaver Winterhalter. If you belonged to the wealthy elites and liked partying, this was a wildly glamorous and opulent time to sample the pleasures of Paris. However, unless you deem a certain other, current head of state swoon-worthy, you’d probably not wish to have your romance cover associated with this lecherous, adulterous, dictatorial man who engineered a coup d’état to crown himself emperor when he found his presidential powers insufficient. (And I say this in the knowledge that unlike this other head of state, Napoleon III did do some good on occasion, including championing workers’ right to strike.)

Lady Eleanor’s Seventh Suitor by Anna Bradley is slated for a September 2017 release. The blurb:

There have been six suitors so far, all vying for the attention—and generous dowry—of the beautiful, elusive Eleanor Sutherland. What does this woman really want? Who has what it takes to melt the heart of the so-called Lady Ice? These are the questions Camden West keeps asking himself. But rather than wait for answers, Cam takes matters into his own hands . . . for he has a secret weapon. Cam knows that Ellie’s sister, Charlotte, harbors a scandalous secret—one that could bring ruin to the Sutherland name. If Ellie marries him, Cam promises to keep mum. But is she willing to sacrifice her own happiness for her sister’s reputation? To Ellie’s surprise, it becomes clear that Cam doesn’t need her money, nor is he interested in her status. Soon, what begins as a sham engagement transforms into something deeper, and more passionate, than Ellie could have imagined. Is it possible that all Cam truly wanted was her? And is that reason enough to say yes—or is handsome Cam hiding something else? Even for a lady in love, only the truth will do...

[triviareads]

ok but it's kinda false advertising if a book says it's for fans of Julia Quinn and Ella Quinn, but then proceeds to start chapter 3 right in the middle of a foursome, right?

[cathygeha]

More Or Less A Marchioness by Anna Bradley

Somerset Sisters #1

 Twists and Turns

A wager

A secret tryst overheard

Can love be found in a match made without it?

 This is an intriguing book with a debutante that has her blinders removed only to realize she wants more than her future may hold for her. Sure, a noble is something to aspire to for a husband but is it enough? Iris Somerset is not so sure after overhearing her bequeathed in the garden talking to his last mistress. And thus begins the pursuit of true love by two people in the ton. Do they want true love? Perhaps Iris does but Finn is one who only wants a woman to be his perfect Marchioness. What is expected versus what one desires is a prickly pear to deal with.

 I enjoyed this book and would love to see a book about Lady Annabel Tallant in the future as well as some others mentioned in the book. I know we will see Violet and Hyacinth (sisters of Iris) in the future and am eager to find out who they end up with.

 My main takeaway is that this book is a historical romance that is plausible. I loved Iris and her awakening and move toward being true to herself. I also liked the awakening of Finn and his coming into his own. Great story and well worth reading.

 Thank you to NetGalley and Kensginton Books – Lyrical Press for the ARC – this is my honest review.

 5 Stars

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35150330-more-or-less-a-marchioness

[pollyssecretlibrary]

“More or Less a Marchioness”, Anna Bradley

[pollyssecretlibrary]

“Twelfth Night with the Earl”, by Anna Bradley

I read this book from NetGalley in exchange for a fair review

RELEASE DATE - NOVEMBER 14th

5 STARS/HEARTS/KITTEN/WHATEVER

This is the story of a young earl and the woman who saved him, the story of two childhood sweethearts killing the ghosts that tore them apart, the best Christmas romance I’ve ever read.

Two years after his father’s death Ethan Fortesque, earl of Devon, arrives in his Corwall estate in order to shut down the house and be done with it forever. Too many ghosts from the past still haunt him, despite the fact that he never returned there since he left for Oxford all those years ago. Disease, family tragedies and a lot of pain have turned him from the happy young fellow he once was to a drunken waste and a jerk. But the girl who was his first and only love and who is now his housekeeper, the fierce Thea Sheridan, and three little orphans, two twin brothers and their little sister, who seem to be nothing but savages will show him that it’s still possible to find love and happiness at Cleves Court.

So in a few words, this is the long process of a man who at the beginning is a mr. Scrooge type to a man who’s willing to do anything for the woman he loves. After she shows him that she’s willing to do the same for him and even more. I loved Thea for that, she saves him because she’s the only one who knows him, because since she was a child they were always together and she knows better than anyone what he’s been through… and she never tells him that she’s been through the same, but he realizes, that’s what makes him come back to her. And their love story or better said, the second chance at it, is a slow burn… slow sweet and beautiful. This is a true love story, going step by step, layer by layer… never looking back until the end.

But there’s more than that, there’s a lot of fun. Apart from Ethan and Thea’s story I loved how the three orphans win Ethan’s heart and vice versa. Their conversations are so funny and the children are so spontaneous and quick in understanding and learning, they soon find a father figure in his lordship, although it takes a little longer for six-year-old Martha to find a place in her heart for Ethan. And as Christmas stories and romances should, it all ends well for all of them, leaving me as a reader with a heartwarming feeling and a wide smile.