A Duke Changes Everything - Christy Carlyle
From Goodreads:In the first novel in
Christy Carlyle’s sizzling Duke’s Den series, three men, intent on
making a fortune, discover irresistible opportunities . . .
Nicholas
Lyon gambled his way into a fortune and ownership of the most opulent,
notorious gentlemen’s club in England. But when Nick’s cruel brother
dies, he inherits a title he never wanted. The sooner Nick is rid of the
estate that has always haunted him, the sooner he can return to the
life he’s built in London. But there’s one obstacle—the exquisite
Thomasina Thorne.
When the new heir to the Tremayne dukedom
suddenly appears in Mina Thorne’s life, she’s flustered. Not only is he
breathtakingly handsome, but he’s also determined to take away her home
and position as steward of the Enderley estate. If Mina learns what
makes the enigmatic duke tick, perhaps she can change his mind—as long
as she doesn’t get too close to him.
With each day Nick
spends with Mina, his resolve weakens as their colliding wills lead to
explosive desire. Could she be the one woman who can help him finally
bury the ghosts of his past?
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My Thoughts: I'm a big fan of strong, independent women characters that buck traditional roles, and Mina certainly fits that description. She's built a life for herself despite challenges and disapproval, all of it which may be falling apart with the arrival of the new heir. He has his own issues of course (what good hero doesn't?!) and is determined to get in and get out and never return.
Of course they meet, there are sparks, a relationship blooms, and a happy ever after. The road that you take from beginning to end though isn't quite as straight and narrow (or boring) as that seems though, and we were left with a fun, quick read that introduces us to a new cast of interesting characters. The uncertainty comes from emotional issues and how the past can affect the future, as well as how the future can impact our ability to deal with our past. With a nod to the current times, we see innovation and science come to the forefront of the story, as well as strong women. I'm intrigued to see how this series moves forward with the men involved and what binds them. It has great potential and I'm looking forward to book two.
Ten Kisses to Scandal: Misadventures in Matchmaking - Vivenne Lorret
From Goodreads:
The Bourne Matrimonial Agency has one rule—never fall in love with the client. However, they never said anything about kissing a rake…
Briar Bourne’s matchmaking career could be summed up in two words—comic disaster.
Unless she can learn about the irresistible forces that draw men and
women together, her professional future looks rather bleak. But Briar
has an intriguing plan—enlisting London’s most irredeemable rake to
teach her everything he knows about attraction. Given his notorious
reputation, it’s no surprise that Nicholas Blacklowe, the Earl of
Edgemont, requests one thing in exchange for his tutelage. For every
lesson, he wants a kiss in return. And what harm could there be in a
simple kiss? After all, Briar would never fall for a scoundrel…
Nicholas
has no romantic notions about love, and no intention of changing his
ways. He’s only helping Briar so that she can find the perfect bride for
his jilted cousin. Yet Briar is so clever, so curious, so candid—so
blasted tempting—that soon, Nicholas can’t stop wondering what it might
be like if he was irresistible to her.
Ten lessons. Ten kisses. And a million ways to fall hopelessly, scandalously in love.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
My Thoughts:
The second in a series, this was one of my binge reads over the holidays...it was fun, made me laugh, and had smart characters I enjoyed. The first was also an enjoyable read, but definitely not necessary to understanding and enjoying this book. We see a bit more of the sister's background and emotional trauma from their previous life experiences in this addition to the series.
Like her older sister, Briar cherishes her volume of Jane Austen's book that was a gift from her mother. We don't see as much focus on the book as we did in the first, but it does play a role in the story all the same. I loved Briar's attitude, her hopefulness, her independence, and the fact she has "lucky" items...which don't always work to obvious advantage! Our hero is the typical rake with no desire of marriage that of course can't resist our heroine, but there's a bit more depth to the character development than just the traditional hero.
I found it fun and enjoyable, and laughed out loud at some of the secondary characters, some of which still confuse me as to their role in the story and if we'll see them in the third installment. It's fairly clear the hero of book 3, and it sounds like a definitely departure from the Duke and Earl we've met in books one and two.
** review copied provided through Edelweiss **
