ARC Review: Fool Me Twice by Meredith Duran

After a few months of reading many good historical romances I was anxiously waiting for an exceptional one. How glad I am that I found Fool Me Twice by Meredith Duran! I enjoyed this late Victorian story from cover to cover. Duran’s writing evokes that aching in the heart that only occurs when my emotions are completely engaged (is that what is meant by “pulling at the heartstrings”?). Delightful characters, witty dialogue, and clever situations make Fool Me Twice a winner.

Olivia Mather is a desperate woman. She must find some secrets from her past in order to free herself from the danger that is following her. All her heart desires is to live a peaceful life in her own home. Olivia uses a friend’s connection to help her land a job in the household of Alastair de Gray, Duke of Marwick where she plans to locate the information she needs. Olivia is surprised to find herself made the housekeeper of a household in chaos. The duke has holed himself in his room and will not leave due to the betrayal and death of his wife some months before. Olivia finds herself drawn into his crazy world as well as being drawn toward the sad duke himself. Both Olivia and Alastair have some very large baggage to confront before they can find their way to a longing relationship.

I absolutely loved Fool Me Twice. Meredith Duran is a superb writer, blending humor, sensitivity and depth of emotion in a way that pulls the reader completely in. Olivia and Alastair were opposites, but the type that is like two halves of a whole. Alastair is physically beautiful; Olivia’s looks are more ordinary. Alastair is wealthy and influential; Olivia is poor and powerless. But the real differences come in how they tackle their difficult situations. Alastair has allowed the betrayals in his life to totally undermine his confidence in his judgment and character. Olivia, on the other hand, has not been overwhelmed by her circumstances. She has an indomitable spirit and an intense will to achieve her goals. She inspires him and he, in turn, protects her. It’s just a lovely fit.

As I mentioned earlier Fool Me Twice is one of those books that grabs my emotions so deeply that I actually ache. The book manages to engage all of the emotions – humor, sympathy, exhilaration and more. I also was pleased that the villains were multi-dimensional with clear motives. The resolution for the central conflict issue was well done and believable. I really have nothing to criticize about any part of the book. It was beautifully written and extremely well executed. The best book I have read in quite a while.

**ARC provided by Author**

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ARC Review: Latymer by Tracey Devlyn

In Latymer Tracey Devlyn offers an exciting little novella full of intrigue. In the previous three books in the Nexus series we met a mysterious lord gone bad, William Townsend, Lord Latymer. Previously a friend of the Nexus leader, Lord Somerton, Latymer has betrayed the spy connections of both England and France. Now a doubly wanted man he has just a few hours to get himself and his nine-year-old son on a ship sailing to America. Thus begins a relentless journey of danger suspense before Latymer’s story is resolved. Hold onto your hats; it’s a very bumpy ride.

Tracey Devlyn took on a daunting task with this story. Seldom do you ever see a villain become the main character of a book. This villain is seeking some form of redemption for the poor choices he has made. Does he achieve that redemption? Maybe. The readers will have to decide. Latymer is not noble. He has sacrificed his honor for reasons that were clearly flawed. But he does love his son and that is his driving force. It is probably necessary to read at least some of the previous Nexus books in order to understand what Latymer has done and how his actions have affected the other characters in the Nexus-related network. This novella serves to tie up a number of loose ends.

Devlyn employs an unusual technique rarely seen in historical romances -- I would call it time-stamping. Because the story takes place in a very tight timeframe each chapter begins with the time of day (or night). This was very helpful in tracking the sense of urgency in the story. Another unusual technique was that the story was told from three different point of view: Latymer, his son Giles and Mac O’Donnell, who is seeking revenge for Latymer killing his brother. Many things happen in this short book: characters reach deeper levels of insight, a romance develops and a huge problem is solved. I am not a big suspense reader, but I found this book to be an intensive, wild ride. I liked that all of the characters were multi-dimensional and realistic. There were hard choices to be made and serious consequences to be dealt with. It was a very fast read and I enjoyed it. I will definitely be looking forward to the next Nexus book.

**ARC provided by Author**

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ARC Review: Wicked Little Secrets by Susanna Ives

Every now and then, after reading hundreds of historical romances, you run across a book that is truly, refreshingly different. Wicked Little Secrets is a delight of a little story, unlike any I can recall. If it were a movie it would definitely be a romantic comedy, complete with touches of slapstick. The hero and heroine were both a little silly and very flawed, but unquestionably fun. Romance readers will enjoy this Victorian romp.

Just about the time that Vivienne Taylor finally secures an engagement to wealthy John Vandergriff, who should arrive back in town but her childhood friend (and secret heart-throb), Lord Dashiell. Years before Dashiell had felt sorry for his precocious next-door neighbor and declared her his little sister. He has spent the meantime sowing his oats in archeological pursuits and wild living. Upon seeing Vivienne when he returns Dashiell realizes that his feelings for her are no longer sisterly. Vivienne realizes that she is still attracted to Dashiell, but she must marry John because her family is close to financial ruin. Our hero and heroine become embroiled in a mystery involving her aunt, his grandfather, a couple of whorehouse madams, and more. Twists and turns abound as Vivienne and Dashiell try (not very successfully) to fight their growing attraction and avoid entanglements that neither is free to enjoy. Vivienne’s impulsiveness and naiveté and Dashiell’s attempts to be a better man make for a lot of humorous adventures.

I liked many, many things about Wicked Little Secrets. It was quirky, charming and laugh-out-loud funny in places. Susanna Ives has such great comic vision that I suspect she should be comedy screenwriter. I think that most readers “see” the story in their mind’s eye when they read, playing like a movie. The book’s hilarious scenes were so accurately described that the reader could picture every movement. I cannot recall another book where a writer used visual imagery in quite the same way. The fun was not limited to action scenes; Ives injected plenty of humorous dialogue as well. Vivienne and Dashiell were both endearingly flawed characters. Far from being “large and in charge,” they were both emotional and a little goofy, making poor but well-intentioned decisions. There was a rather complicated mystery that unfolded during the story and it kept the reader’s attention. A secondary budding romance between his grandfather and her aunt was pretty close to adorable. Ives successfully managed to poke fun at religion without being irreverent. My only significant criticism of the book was that the writing was a bit choppy. It didn’t flow as nicely as I would have liked. At times the movement of the story seemed a bit erratic, but Wicked Little Secrets made up for that with fun. You don’t want to miss this book – it was a hoot.

**ARC provided by NetGalley**

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ARC Review: What Not to Bare by Megan Frampton

Most romance novels are written with a certain familiar flow to the story, but every now and then we encounter a book that seems to be marching to a different drummer. Sometimes that can be because of inconsistent writing or poor pacing, but other times it is because the writer truly has a unique style. What Not to Bare is a quirky, delightful story brought to life through interesting characters. It took me just a little while to get into the unusual rhythm of the writing, but once I did, it was all fun and enjoyment. Megan Frampton places us most of the time in the mind of the heroine whose thoughts are fast, curious and somewhat jumbled. It was almost like stream-of-consciousness writing. Definitely different than the usual Regency, very quick and funny.

Lady Charlotte Jepstow is reasonably attractive with a large dowry, but she is barely tolerating her third season, hoping her parents will give up on her and allow her to live a quiet, spinster life. She dresses in outlandish clothing partly because she likes them and partly as a challenge to get others to really see who she is. She has been dubbed “The Abomination.” Lord David Marchston has recently returned from his beloved India because of a scandal. His superior (also Charlotte’s uncle) asks him to court Charlotte in an attempt to make other gentlemen interested in her. David is so attractive that he was dubbed “Mr. Gorgeous” in India, but he really wants to be valued for his usefulness, not his looks. Charlotte is quite surprised when the best looking guy in London pays attention to her and David is surprised to discover that he enjoys Charlotte’s unique personality. Complications and conflicts make it difficult for Charlotte and David to reach their very satisfying Happily Ever After.

After reading hundreds of historical romances it is a delicious pleasure to come across an occasional book that is engaging because it is different. It is such fun to be inside Charlotte’s mind. She is sharp, curious, and impulsive, often blurting out questions that others would not dare to ask. It was also great fun to see the usually cool and collected David become befuddled by Charlotte’s unusual questions and antics, causing him to say ridiculous things, like that she was “not ugly.” This is a thoroughly engaging romance with lovely steamy bits. It has some wonderful messages about not judging people by their exteriors and that real self-esteem is deeper than our surfaces. Charlotte and David would never have seemed to go together to the casual observer, but they found that they had much in common and it was enough to build a solid relationship. Charlotte clearly sees all of her faults, but David helps her appreciate her unique qualities. Charlotte helps David engage his finer aspirations. What Not to Bare was a joy to read. I highly recommend it.

**ARC provided by NetGalley**

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ARC Review: The Luckiest Lady in London by Sherry Thomas

There is just something about the way that Sherry Thomas writes that speaks to me on a visceral level. Even when the story is not especially strong (as with this one) I am completely drawn in. When I begin to read one of her books it’s get-your-own-dinner, leave-me-alone time at our house. I simply can’t stop until the end. The Luckiest Lady in London is an intriguing book that I loved reading, but it missed the mark for me in some important ways.

The book begins by describing details of the childhood of Felix Rivendale, particularly his frustration and disappointment in trying to please parents who were at odds with each other. This background information is intended to help us understand the adult Felix and should explain his disjointed behavior. As an adult (and as the Marquess of Wrenworth) Felix is one of the most sought-after eligible gentlemen in society. He has dealt with his past by cultivating an image as The Ideal Gentleman. Louisa Cantwell is the designated fortune hunter for her family. With four other sisters (one who needs special care) Louisa is one chosen to go forth and find a wealthy husband in order to secure their futures. She attacks the issue in a totally practical and calculating way and she is prepared to make this sacrifice for the family. When she meets Felix her physical attraction to him is intense, but she immediately sees through his Ideal Gentleman veneer. He also can see Louisa’s diabolical side and it intrigues him. They begin a cat-and-mouse game in which Felix finally proposes. Everyone tells Louisa that she is the luckiest lady in London to have landed such a great catch. Louisa knows better; Felix is troubled and she finds she cannot trust him. The rest of the book involves the months of their early marriage and they struggle to understand their feelings about themselves and each other.

I loved the first half of the book as Felix and Louisa play mental games with each other. It was touching and funny at the same time. The biggest problem I had with the entire book was that I never really understood Felix. This was surprising considering that Thomas went to a great deal of trouble to make sure the reader could grasp his childhood anguish. In spite of that, his behavior seemed erratic, illogical, and even cruel. It was difficult to understand why a very sensible girl like Louisa would put up with him. This is going to sound strange, but I also had trouble picturing what he looked like. Yes, there were plenty of descriptions, but somehow they just wouldn’t form into an image for me. Louisa was one of the most openly sexual virginal characters I have ever encountered. I didn’t find this objectionable, but it was a little unusual. To sum up, I mostly loved The Luckiest Lady in London, but was a bit frustrated with Felix. Sherry Thomas always digs deep into her characters’ psyches, but this time the emotions were perhaps too complicated. Nevertheless, she is one of the best writers of historical romance and I will continue to read anything she writes.

**ARC provided by Publisher**

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ARC Review: The Viscount’s Vow by Collette Cameron

The Viscount’s Vow by Collette Cameron is a very pleasant Regency novel. While not officially part of a series, it is related to her previous book, Highlander’s Hope. Interestingly, the events in The Viscount’s Vow take place chronologically before Highlander’s Hope even though it was published several months later. These are Cameron’s first two published novels. In The Viscount’s Vow she demonstrates solid writing skills, but there were also a few things that indicate a beginning writer.

Ian Hamilton, the new Viscount Warrick, is out for revenge. The recent deaths of his father and his younger brother have left him sad and angry. He has been told that a young woman, Evangeline Caruthers, is implicated in the dueling death of his brother and a duke. He arrives on the London scene with a desire for revenge, but without a specific plan. He meets “Vangie” at a ball and asks her to dance. It isn’t long before Vangie experiences a debilitating migraine and passes out. In Ian’s attempts to help her they are left in a compromising situation and are forced to marry. There are many questions to answer and situations to endure as Ian and Vangie move toward their Happily Ever After. Can Ian change his mind about her role in his brother’s death? Can he accept her Romani heritage? Why does he keep encountering dangerous circumstances?

I enjoyed reading The Viscount’s Vow. Collette Cameron’s writing kept my interest and evoked great sympathy for the things the characters had to endure. One of the most distracting things was her overuse of Regency phrases and slang. It is quite clear that she did her historical research and some Regency language would certainly be appropriate, but there was so much that it pulled my attention away from the story. Another problem was that she hit on one of my pet peeves – one-dimensional and/or crazy villains. Most historical romance writers, in my opinion, are not very good at creating believable villains. Since I think that people are not totally black or white, but are varying shades of gray, it frustrates me when a villain is totally evil. One way that writers accomplish this is to make the villain evilly insane, which also frustrates me. Most experienced writers (hopefully) can sometimes do a better job with villains so I chalk this up to Cameron’s relative inexperience. She definitely has potential to create good books. This one was a bit melodramatic, but the steamy bits were well done. Both Ian and Vangie showed depth and emotion. Her descriptions of action scenes were vivid and easy to imagine. I will be glad to read other books by Collette Cameron and I think she will be a successful writer of historical romances.

**ARC provided by Author**

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ARC Review: Once a Rake by Eileen Dreyer

In February, 2012 at the finish of the third of the Drake’s Rakes series (Always a Temptress) we left Ian Ferguson shot, in the sea, branded a traitor, and presumed dead. I have waited (impatiently) for 20 long months with Ian’s situation weighing heavily on my mind. Finally the story continues in Once a Rake. Was it worth the wait? You bet it was. I love this series and was delighted to rejoin this intriguing group of guys. Eileen Dreyer is a masterful writer. Her way of describing details painted a totally engaging picture.

The giant Scotsman, Ian Ferguson, is enmeshed in political and military intrigue. He is accused of attempting to kill Wellington when he is actually protecting him. Ian escapes the situation by diving into the sea and is shot in the process. He makes his way to land and hides in a building on the property of Lady Sarah Clarke (who, in the most gigantic coincidence, happens to be best friends with his sisters). Sarah’s husband went off to fight in the war against Napoleon four years earlier and has not returned. She struggles to manage the estate and take care of various relatives and friends that live there. The attraction between Ian and Sarah is swift and strong, but numerous issues prevent them being a couple. Ian is engaged and needs his prospective wife to gain the political influence to initiate reforms. Sarah has a missing husband and greedy relatives waiting to take the property at the first misstep. Ian is a wanted man and Sarah is harboring a fugitive. After Sarah helps Ian recover from his gunshot wound he heads to a nearby estate party to get help from his friends in proving his innocence. Sarah has to accompany him as a semi-hostage. It takes quite a bit of adventure and intrigue to unravel this complicated mess and the road to their Happily Ever After is difficult and twisted.

I love the Rakes! The entire series is planned to encompass nine books and Dreyer has organized them into three trilogies or sub-series. The first three (The Three Graces) were released in 2011 and early 2012. Once A Rake begins the second trilogy (called Last Chance Academy for the school that Sarah and her friends attended). It is not necessary to have read the previous trilogy to enjoy Once a Rake, but it is so much more interesting if you know about the other Rakes. Each guy has a unique personality and their interaction is a strong element of the series. Once a Rake was a great adventure and romance story. The relationship between Ian and Sarah was sweet, steamy and genuine. It was particularly nice that Ian realized Sarah felt unwanted and he was so sympathetic and supportive. There was a good lead-in for the next book, Twice Tempted, about Rakes Alex and Chuffy (I LOVE Chuffy!). Please, Ms. Dreyer, do not make me wait so long for it. It’s killing me!

**ARC provided by Net Galley**

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ARC Review: The Arrangement by Mary Balogh

What a sweet, lovely book! I freely admit that I am a sucker for stories with a blind hero so I was probably going to like this one no matter what. But when you put the blind hero into the writing hands of Mary Balogh the result is a heartwarming story of characters discovering their inner strength together. If you like adventure, intrigue or danger this is not the book for you. If, however, you love sympathetic characters and you appreciate slow, steady character development you will enjoy The Arrangement (Survivor’s Club #2).

The story opens as Vincent Hunt, who has recently and unexpectedly become Viscount Darleigh, runs away from home and his family’s attempt to find him a bride. His mother, grandmother and sisters tend to overwhelm him since he is the youngest and he is blind due to a war injury. Vincent knows that he has to grow up and become his own man, but he wants to do it on his own terms. His wandering eventually leads him to his childhood home where he is welcomed back into the community. It is there that he meets Sophie Fry, “the Mouse,” a poor relation living with a prominent area family. Vincent’s friendship with Sophie causes her to be cast out with nowhere to go. They decide to marry even though they are both less than enthusiastic about the idea. They make an agreement (the arrangement) that they will each live independently after a year. The rest of the book takes us through their wedding and months of adjustment on their way to their Happily Ever After.

Romance writers today are taught that the essence of story lies in conflict. Sometimes it seems like the message is “the more conflict, the better.” As a result it is not unusual to find books with what I call “contrived conflict’ – it feels like the author tried too hard to include lots of conflict, even when it did not fit naturally into the story. Interestingly, The Arrangement had almost no serious conflict. There was no villain, no evil plot, and no insurmountable issues. The story moved forward at an even pace and the characters dealt with each issue as they encountered it. There was never any doubt, of course, that Vincent and Sophie would work things out, but there weren’t even any real bumps in the road. Each of them helped the other to find their confidence and to build their life together.

I loved reading The Arrangement. It was a heartwarming journey of self-discovery for two characters with difficult challenges. In spite of his blindness, Vincent was not an angsty, tortured hero. He was just a young man trying to take charge of his life. Vincent was a genuine beta hero, loving and considerate. Sophie was a little bit of a tragic heroine, but she possessed a courageous spirit. She just needed the opportunity to blossom into a strong woman. Both of them were living marginal lives, but struggled to be whole people. The book was a little unusual in that Vincent and Sophie were younger than in a lot of Regency romances; he was only twenty-three. We were privy to their sexual lives, but it was pretty bland, not particularly steamy. One thing I especially enjoyed was getting reacquainted with most of the other members of the Survivor’s Club. It is a great series and I can’t wait for the next one.

**ARC provided by Edelweiss**

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ARC Review: No Good Duke Goes Unpunished by Sarah Maclean

Sarah Maclean once again demonstrates her writing excellence with No Duke Goes Unpunished, the third installment in the Rules of Scoundrels series. It is a beautifully written story that is a little hard to read at times because the characters are so filled with anger and regret. Strong writing evokes strong reactions and this is very strong writing. It engaged my emotions causing me to both chuckle and cry. Reading the book was an intensely emotional experience as we follow two people that were victims of their own choices, choices with unintended consequences.

William Harrow, Duke of Lamont, known as Temple, is believed to have murdered his father’s young bride. He has become a pariah, thus causing him to embrace life as an unbeaten boxer at the Fallen Angel, a gambling club he owns with his friends. Twelve years after the “murder” the supposed victim, Mara Lowe, decides to offer her absolution for the murder in exchange for the money her brother gambled away at the Fallen Angel. Mara has been in hiding, running an orphanage for boys under an assumed name. Temple has every reason to hate Mara for setting up the “murder.” Mara never intended for things to turn out the way they did. These two have dozens of reasons to stay apart, yet they find themselves caught up in intrigue and desire. The road to their Happily Ever After is a very long, very rocky one.

Conflict is essential in telling a story. Most books employ a fair amount of conflict between the hero and heroine in order to develop their character and to move the story forward. No Duke Goes Unpunished begins with the hero and heroine so deeply enmeshed in a seriously hurtful conflict that it was difficult to see how they would ever get beyond it. In many ways this was a sad book for me because both of them had lost so much and there was no way to replace what they had lost. It is a great tribute to Maclean’s writing skills that I completely believed the transition of the relationship from hatred/distrust to love. A full array of emotions were engaged throughout the book – sorrow, shame, determination, pragmatism, desire, humor and more. By the end we are left sobbing with a mix of regret and joy. I just loved the matching of Temple and Mara. It is one of the most unlikely pairings I have seen because of their past, yet they are also a perfect match for each other. Revisiting the other owners of the Fallen Angel club greatly enhances the story.

It is clear that I loved many things about No Duke Goes Unpunished. So why didn’t I give it 5 stars? The main reason is that I found the basic premise of the story to be not completely believable. It seemed unlikely that there would be a “Killer Duke” that was a renowned boxer. Why were they so sure there was a murder without a body? Wouldn’t he have been prosecuted? Maybe not, because he was a member of the aristocracy, but surely there would have been some specific consequences. It was difficult for me to believe that Mara would do nothing for twelve years, even when she knew what had happened. Her behavior was a little hard to swallow as well. I understand that she had to be tough, but she was harsh and unyielding most of the time. I also became a little tired of the lengthy flip-flops that Mara made about telling the whole story or accepting his love. No Duke Goes Unpunished is a very good book, very nearly 5 stars, but it just slightly missed the mark. I gladly join the many people who will be anticipating the last and final Scoundrels book about Chase to be released next year. We look forward to a wonderful end to this top-notch series.

**ARC provided by Author**

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ARC Review: Pleasuring the Lady by Jess Michaels

Pleasuring the Lady, the second book in the Pleasure Wars series from Jess Michaels, is an erotic Regency story. We met the heroine, Portia, in the first Pleasure Wars book (Taken by the Duke) and the hero, Miles, appeared in another Jess Michaels book, An Introduction to Pleasure. Jess Michaels is no stranger to historical erotica and she knows how to titillate the reader in order to propel the story forward.

Lady Portia’s life is pretty much a mess. Her father and now her brother have ruined the family finances. Her mother suffers from some form of dementia. Portia accepts her life as a wallflower, her one joy being in her friendship with Ava (the heroine of Taken by the Duke). When Ava bemoans the suffering and disappearance of her brother Liam (his story is presented in Taken by the Duke) Portia decides to look for him in the last place he was seen, the decadent Donville Masquerade. There she does not find Liam, but runs into an old friend of her brother, Miles, the Marquis of Weatherfield. He doesn’t recognize, but is strangely attracted to her. On a subsequent trip to the masquerade they are discovered in a compromising situation and are forced to marry. From there they struggle to establish a solid relationship while experimenting with various sexual situations.

I always enjoy Jess Michaels’ books and this one is no exception. Pleasuring the Lady was a good continuation of the story begun in Taken by the Duke and I recommend reading them in order. We learned very little new information about Liam so readers will certainly look forward to his story in Beauty and the Earl, coming in April. Portia was a very sympathetic character and I felt for her struggles with her mother and brother. Miles was intriguing and complex. He believed that he was bound by his history and could not love, yet he was kind and caring. For me, Jess Michaels books fall on the lighter side of erotic romance. While she includes some things that would definitely put the book into the erotic category, it is not nearly as far-gone or crude as many other examples of historical erotica. It is important for readers to know, however, that this is a very hot romance, sexual activity is central to the story, and it goes beyond “vanilla” sex. As much as I liked Pleasuring the Lady I did not enjoy it as much as the previous book. I felt like there was a little less emotional depth. I thought Michaels’ portrayal of her brother was unexplainably harsh and one-dimensional. The erotic parts were interesting, but it seemed like the author was trying to include some explicit stuff that was not always needed in the story. It was, however, a quick and compelling read and I cannot wait for the final book in this series.

**ARC provided by Author**

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ARC Review: The Trouble With Being a Duke by Sophie Barnes

The Trouble with Being a Duke was a nice book. It is the first book of Sophie Barnes’ new series, At the Kingsborough Ball. Nice is the most accurate word I can think of for this pleasant story. The writing was not inspired, but it was nice. The story was not unique, but it was nice. The characters were not special, but they were nice. This was not the best book I’ve ever read, but it was a nice Regency Cinderella-themed book.

Ever since his father died and he became the next Duke of Kingsborough Anthony Hurst has worked hard to abandon his rakish lifestyle and become a responsible leader of his family. He convinces his mother to hold another Kingsborough after a five-year hiatus. At the ball Anthony falls hard for a beautiful girl. She is Isabella Chilcott, an impoverished girl from the neighborhood. Isabella is practically engaged to man she does not love, but needs to marry him to help her family. She borrows a mysterious gown from the attic, dons a mask and heads out for one special night. Complications are many as Anthony pursues Isabella and she tries to stay true to her commitments. There is a bit of a mystery and a major resolution before the book is done.

I enjoyed The Trouble with Being a Duke because it was a nicely done story, but there were some shortcomings. Anthony was almost too good to be true. As a result, I didn’t quite buy the fact that he was supposed to be such a rake. Isabella clung to her chosen path even though there really wasn’t much reason for her to do so. Her parents were resistant to Anthony’s suit for no apparent reason (OK, the reason was later explained, but it wasn’t totally satisfying to me). The ending was somewhat dragged out without a clear climax. I liked that fact that the plot for the next book was introduced very subtly and it did not interfere with this story. The book certainly didn’t break new ground, it was an interesting twist on an old theme. I liked it and it will appeal to Regency readers.

**ARC provided by Edelwiess**

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ARC Review: Never Desire a Duke by Lily Dalton

Christmas stories are inevitably sentimental. They almost always have themes of redemption and renewal, as we would expect. Never Desire a Duke is no exception. There are many themes here that have been done and done again. Yet they were done very well in this sweet story of forgiveness and renewed love. Lily Dalton feels like a natural storyteller to me. Her writing flowed smoothly and the dialogue was fresh and genuine.

The Duke and Duchess of Claxton’s marriage is completely derailed. It got off to a wonderful start. Then Lady Sophia, pregnant with their first child, discovers a note from one of Vane’s paramours. Rushing to leave him, she falls and loses the baby. Vane (who has actually given up his womanizing ways) is crushed by the loss of the baby and by Sophia’s grief. He feels inadequate to deal with the emotional upheaval and leaves England for about a year. Now he is back to try to mend the fences. Sophia is ready for a legal separation, but first she wants to have a baby. They become snowbound at one of his small estates just before Christmas and are forced to confront their issues.

In some ways Never Desire a Duke is like dozens of other Christmas romances. It had a carload of plot devices that have been used again and again: the big misunderstanding, the good-marriage-gone-bad plot, snowbound at Christmas, the former lover, the misguided younger brother, the I-want-a-baby-but-not-you trope. So this should add up to a really trite book, right? Wrong. Dalton makes these tired devices fresh by offering new twists. Yes, there is plenty of misunderstanding, but they do talk about it. Even though they are snowbound they are far from completely alone; there is a great deal of humorous interaction with the townspeople, friends and relatives. The former lover seems evil, but we gradually see another side of her. Add it all together and you have a sweet little delight of a Christmas story with the requisite sentimental sobber ending. It was a pleasure to read and I recommend it.

**ARC provided by NetGalley**

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ARC Review: Lady in Red by Maire Claremont

Let me start by saying that Lady in Red (Mad Passions series #2) is a dark book. Very dark. Very Gothic. This is not to say that it isn’t a good book because it is quite good. But do not look for a sweet, heart-warming story. Every character in Lady in Red is tortured in some way, including the secondary characters. Each has a troubled past that is complicating the present. The book is so dark that we don’t see much light at all until nearly the very end, yet it is a romance with a happy ending. I found myself intrigued by the story and was very wrapped up in the characters. I also read the book very quickly which is a sure sign that I enjoyed it.

Set in Victorian England in 1865 the book picks up where the first book (The Dark Lady) left off, with Mary Darrel on the run after escaping from an insane asylum. Mary seeks help from the only person she can think of, her mother’s friend, a whorehouse madam named Yvonne. It is there that she meets another damaged soul, Edward Barrons, Duke of Fairleigh. He is immediately drawn to her plight and envisions saving her as offering redemption to him. He takes her to his home and helps her begin to recover from her physical and emotional traumas. But soon her father, the Duke of Duncliffe, who had imprisoned her and told everyone she was dead, finds where she is and comes after her. Edward engages the help of his friend, Viscount Powers, to empower Mary to fight her father. Will revenge satisfy Mary’s need for resolution? Can Edward release himself from his tormented past and more forward? Can two marginal people somehow rebuild each other?

Lady in Red was a strangely compelling book. Even though I like really tortured characters this was almost too dark for my taste. There was a considerable degree of violence, torture, insanity, and serious opium and alcohol addiction surrounding the events. One high point of the book for me was the character of Viscount Powers. I loved his sarcastic wit and was touched by his damaged spirit. It is exciting to know that he is the hero of book #3 (The Dark Affair, coming March 2014). This was one of the best set-ups for the character in the next book that I have seen. As I progressed through the book I was somewhat overcome by all of the troubles, but I rooted for the characters nevertheless. The ending was satisfying, but a little abrupt and it shifted gears perhaps too quickly. The sudden leap into lightness was appropriate, but felt just a bit strange. I think that Claremont did such a good job with the darkness that it was hard to see the characters any other way. All in all, I really liked the book and am looking forward to the next one.

**ARC provided by NetGalley**

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