Monthly Archives: October 2020

Review: My Last Duchess by Eloisa James

Posted in Reviews by

My Last Duchess by Eloisa James
Series: The Wildes of Lindow Caste #0.5 (full reading order below)
Publication Date: September 27th 2020
Links: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
Source: I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

New York Times bestselling author Eloisa James returns to the Wildes series with a prequel about the Wilde children’s parents, Hugo, Duke of Lindow, and Ophelia, Lady Astley.

Every Duke needs a Duchess…

Hugo Wilde, the Duke of Lindow, has a drafty castle, eight naughty children—and no wife. Ophelia, Lady Astley, has a fine house, one well-behaved daughter—and no husband.

Hugo takes one look at Ophelia and loses his heart, but she doesn’t want more children or a castle. She takes one look at him and heads for her carriage.

Desperate to find a duchess, Hugo identifies an appropriate lady to woo. Yet when he meets Ophelia again, the duke realizes that he will marry her, or no one.

Now he faces the greatest challenge of his life.

He must convince Ophelia that their blazing sensuality, his exquisite castle, and his eight charming children add up to a match made in heaven.

When a duke finds his duchess, can he win her heart?

The Wildes of Lindow Castle has been such a fun series. I adore all these Wilde siblings, but when I heard we’d be getting a story about the parents, Hugo and Ophelia, I couldn’t wait to read it! They are the much beloved father and mother/stepmother to these eight children. My Last Duchess turned out to be SUCH a sweet, feel-good read. If you love a pursuing hero who does everything he can to woo the heroine, you’ll love this one!

Hugo, a Duke and father to eight motherless children, is in need of a wife. After being widowed by his first and divorced by his second, he doesn’t have much hope for a long-lasting marriage full of happiness and love, so he’ll settle for one that provides for his children. But when he sees Ophelia across the room at a ball for the first time, he’s smitten. It’s love at first sight, something the men of the Wilde family all experience, and he’ll do everything he can to show Ophelia he’s the right man for her.

Ophelia is the single, widowed mother of Viola. She has money, a home, a loving daughter – what more does she need? She certainly doesn’t have any use for a Duke, even a gorgeous one who’s dead set on winning her heart. But maybe there is enough room in her heart for Hugo and his eight adorable children, because she ends up falling for all of them right back.

My Last Duchess is quick, swoony romance that gives us insight on how Hugo and Ophelia met and fell in love all those years ago. We get to see the Wilde siblings as young children, including Horatio, and they’re up to no good, as usual. It was easy to enjoy this one – it’s low drama with a straightforward romance and a hero who has all the heart eyes for the heroine. If you’re a fan of the series, you don’t want to miss this prequel. And if you’re new, this is a great introduction to the Wildes!


lacey

Reading Order: The Wildes of Lindow Castle series


#0.5 ~ My Last Duchess: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#1 ~ Wilde in Love: Ebook • Hardcover • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#2 ~ Too Wilde to Wed: Ebook • Hardcover • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#3 ~ Born to be Wilde: Ebook • Hardcover • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#4 ~ Say No to the Duke: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Audible Goodreads
#5 ~ Say Yes to the Duke: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads

FOLLOW BOOKLOVERS FOR LIFE ON:
✦ INSTAGRAM • YOUTUBE • FACEBOOK • TWITTER • GOODREADS • PINTEREST • BLOGLOVIN’ ✦

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Review: A Princess for Christmas by Jenny Holiday

Posted in 3.5 hearts, Reviews by

A Princess for Christmas by Jenny Holiday
Series: Standalone
Publication Date: October 13th 2020
Links: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
Source: I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

From USA Today bestselling author Jenny Holiday comes a modern fairy tale just in time for Christmas about a tough New Yorker from the other side of the tracks who falls for a princess from the other side of the world.

Leo Ricci’s already handling all he can, between taking care of his little sister Gabby, driving a cab, and being the super of his apartment building in the Bronx. But when Gabby spots a “princess” in a gown outside of the UN trying to hail a cab, she begs her brother to stop and help. Before he knows it, he’s got a real-life damsel in distress in the backseat of his car.

Princess Marie of Eldovia shouldn’t be hailing a cab, or even be out and about. But after her mother’s death, her father has plunged into a devastating depression and the fate of her small Alpine country has fallen on Marie’s shoulders. She’s taken aback by the gruff but devastatingly handsome driver who shows her more kindness than she’s seen in a long time.

When Marie asks Leo to be her driver for the rest of her trip, he agrees, thinking he’ll squire a rich miss around for a while and make more money than he has in months. He doesn’t expect to like and start longing for the unpredictable Marie. And when he and Gabby end up in Eldovia for Christmas, he discovers the princess who is all wrong for him is also the woman who is his perfect match.

I was SO excited about Jenny Holiday’s Christmas romance – I’ve enjoyed Jenny’s books in the past and I always look forward to holiday books during the Christmas season. A Princess for Christmas is literally Hallmark movie level, except much more steamy, which I will never complain about. This Christmas romance between a European princess who’s trying to save her country from financial downfall and a New York City taxi cab driver who’s taking care of his orphaned younger sister is sweet, fun, and flirty. It wasn’t PERFECT for me, but I still enjoyed my time reading it. If you’re looking for a romance to pick up this holiday season, definitely give this one a try!

Leo Ricci is trying to make ends meet providing for his sister and himself after the tragic death of their parents. He drives his cab all around NYC, and as luck would have it, while driving his sister back home, the Princess Marie of Eldovia asks for a ride to an urgent meeting. Leo doesn’t have time to drive an uppity princess across the city, but he can’t resist a damsel in distress. And he can’t resist the job or the money Marie offers him in exchange for taking her around the city to meetings she needs to save her country.

The first half of this book is adorable. Leo, his sister Gabby, and Marie go on little NYC touristy adventures so that Marie can experience what the city is all about. They are the cutest little group and I really enjoyed all the banter between them. Leo is grumpy but joins in on the fun, Gabby is a pure delight, and Marie is a little awkward but once her frost has thawed out she embraces everything.

The second half of the book takes place in Eldovia, where Marie’s family reigns. I found this second half to be a bit slow and dragged out – this is the main reason I can’t quite give this four stars, even though it’s close. The book felt too long because of this drag and I wanted to fast forward through all the politics and get to the romance. But other than that, this book was still entertaining and gave me all the cozy winter vibes I was looking for. If you’ve ever imagined what a Hallmark Christmas movie would be like as a romance book, A Princess for Christmas is literally it. It almost made me wish Eldovia was a real place that I could go to during Christmas!


lacey

FOLLOW BOOKLOVERS FOR LIFE ON:
✦ INSTAGRAM • YOUTUBE • FACEBOOK • TWITTER • GOODREADS • PINTEREST • BLOGLOVIN’ ✦

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Release Day Review: Famine by Laura Thalassa

Posted in 4 hearts, Reviews by

Famine by Laura Thalassa
Series: Four Horsemen #3 (full reading order below)
Publication Date: October 1st 2020
Links: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
Source: I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review

They came to earth—Pestilence, War, Famine, Death—four horsemen riding their screaming steeds, racing to the corners of the world. Four horsemen with the power to destroy all of humanity. They came to earth, and they came to end us all.

Ana da Silva always assumed she’d die young, she just never expected it to be at the hands of Famine, the haunting immortal who once spared her life so many years ago. But if the horseman remembers her at all, he must not care, for when she comes face to face with him for the second time in her life, she’s stabbed and left for dead.

Only, she doesn’t quite die.

If there’s one thing Famine is good at, it’s cruelty. And how these blighted bastards deserve it. Try as he might, he can’t forget what they once did to him. But when Ana, a ghost from his past, corners him and promises pain for what he so recently did to her, she and her empty threats captivate him, and he decides to keep her around.

In spite of themselves, Ana and Famine are drawn to each other. But at the end of the day, the two are enemies. Nothing changes that. Not one kind act, not two. And definitely not a few steamy nights. But enemies or reluctant lovers, if they don’t stop themselves soon, heaven will.

The slow burn here was sooo good!!

I kind of forgot how awful these Horsemen are in the beginning, even though they are literally the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. Famine might be the worst one of them yet, but that made the payoff for him falling in love that much better. The heroine here is a prostitute and feisty enough to stand up to Famine. I really enjoyed their dynamic and banter.

Ana da Silva once saved Famine’s life years ago when she was a teen. Years later, after having to sell her body in order to survive in this apocalyptic world, she sees him again – but he doesn’t recognize or remember her. He leaves her to die but she manages to survive. And what does Ana do? She gets pissed. She goes back to him and threatens him, which only amuses Famine. But he keeps her around because he’s intrigued by her fire.

This slow burn enemies-to-lovers romance was fantastic! I loved Ana and Famine’s dynamic, how they constantly kept getting in each other’s faces. Ana is definitely not afraid of a little ole Horseman of the Apocalypse. I thought the pacing was great and the way they slowly fell for each other worked well for me.

I love this fantasy romance series, despite our terrible (anti)heroes, and this book has only made me that much more excited for Death’s book! Even though it’s not my favorite (mine is still War), Famine is another great installment that will make you question your morals.


lacey

Reading Order: Four Horsemen series

 

#1 ~ Pestilence: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#2 ~ War: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#3 ~ Famine: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#4 ~ Death: Goodreads (release date TBA)

FOLLOW BOOKLOVERS FOR LIFE ON:
✦ INSTAGRAM • YOUTUBE • FACEBOOK • TWITTER • GOODREADS • PINTEREST • BLOGLOVIN’ ✦

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.