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My Sister’s Intended by Rachael Anderson
For as long as Prudence can remember, it has been understood that her sister will one day wed the eldest son of their nearest neighbor. Such an alliance will benefit both families and bring a great deal of joy to all parents involved.
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Book title: The Duke’s Dilemma
Author: Elaine Manders
Release date: May 27, 2017
Genre: Historical Romance, subgenre: Regency
Should he wed the perfect match—or the one he loves?
Edward Dalton, the new Duke of Langsdale, must soon take a wife to ensure the hereditary line. A young war widow seems the perfect choice. She is charming, well respected with impeccable character, and her connections to the Ton’s most important people is an asset he can’t ignore. But Edward is intrigued by another widow. The mysterious, hauntingly beautiful Lady Wayte.
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Confession: I am over forty but enjoy reading young adult novels. Sure, I can use the fact I have three teenage nieces and a nephew as my excuse for reading them. After all, there are plenty of books out there about things like demons, werewolves, vampires, and more. And then there are the books that go too far with the physicality between the characters. But honestly, even when those kids are off to college, I will still read young adult books.
Book two of the Valiant Hearts series by Dina Sleiman is Allen’s story. If you read Dauntless (or even read my review), then you’ll remember the boy whose interest in the leader of the forest outlaws was unrequited. Now, Allen has grown in physical stature, knowledge, and ability. He still feels drawn to the land of North Brittania where we hopes to make a way for himself as a knight.
Upon his arrival, he meets Gwendolyn Barnes and is immediately drawn to the tall, blonde beauty. But when he is asked to choose between duty and love, he believes he is doing God’s will by following the leading of the counsel.
Gwen longs for adventure. Her brothers allowed her to train along beside them as they grew into knights. But now they are gone and Gwen’s father insists she marry a brute exactly like him. Her opinion of marriage shifts when she meets a kind knight and dreams of a future. One that she must release when the Duke is murdered.
I love Gwen’s strength and determination in this book. Without giving anything away, she makes a couple of decisions that no woman would normally choose during this time. Yet, her heart is vulnerable. She cares for her friends, her brothers, and her mother, she cares for the children in her village, and she comes to care for Allen. When there is a difficult task ahead, Gwen approaches it with courage.
As Allen walks a fine line between duty and pride, he loses his way. He must marry one woman when his heart belongs to another. And when danger comes to his friend Merry, he must choose between angering the counsel or saving his friend. When he takes his eyes off God, his steps veer from the path laid out before him.
Over all, this book was fast-paced and enjoyable. My one complaint is the love triangle thing showing up again in the second book. Thankfully, it’s different enough that it isn’t too off-putting. And I felt for Allen, Gwen, and Rosalind (Gwen’s maid and the third point of view in this story).
****Bethany House provided me with a complimentary copy of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest and fair review. All opinions are my own.
Someday I hope to visit England. Ever since my first read of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, I’ve been fascinated with stories set in the country known for its gloomy weather, nobility, and sprawling landscapes from London to the northern region by the sea to the countryside. Whether it’s a regency novel, contemporary, or Edwardian, I love reading about the people and places in the UK. Rosanna M. White’s The Lost Heiress, set in the Edwardian time period, did not disappoint with plenty of relationship, romance, and intrigue.
Raised by the Grimaldis in Monaco, Brook Eden has never fit in. Not with the royal family and not with the regular townspeople. When she asks her best friend Justin to look into something she found in her mother’s things, he returns from England with news that she does indeed have a family. Yet, not everyone in the household is as certain as her father that she is, indeed, the lost Baroness of Berkeley.
As Brook settles into a new life with her father and other relatives, Justin Wildon struggles with loss of his own and his new role as the Duke of Stafford. A role which takes him away from the young woman he has grown to love as more than a friend. But fear of what may appear as a convenient match as well as uncertainty of his Brook’s feelings, keeps him from declaring himself.
Despite her new home and wealth, Brook is tormented by nightmares and the mystery of her mother’s death. Why was she fleeing in the middle of the night with Brook? And when she is attacked by a man demanding something she doesn’t have, things get really interesting.
Written from three points of view—Brook, Justin, and Brook’s maid—The Lost Heiress drew me in from the first pages. Brook’s propensity to involve herself in dangerous activities, her kindness, and her courage give her depth. As does her confusion with Justin and the other men who surround her in her new life. Justin’s steadfastness and commitment to the dukedom make him the perfect compliment to Brook. Deidre O’Malley, the maid, struggles with her new mistress and has to decide whether to confide in her or not.
White states in a letter to readers at the end of this book that she began the story when she was twelve and through many, many rewrites, the story evolved into the beautiful book that is now available to readers. This one was worth the wait and I am looking forward to the next one.
***Bethany House provided me with a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest and faire review. All opinions expressed are my own.
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