Audio Review ~ How the Duke Was Won ~ Lenora Bell #AudioChallenge #COYER #ShelfLove

How the Duke was Won by Lenora Bell
The Disgraceful Dukes #1
Narrated by: Beverley A. Crick
Release Date: December 20, 2016
Genre: Adult, Historical Romance
Source: I received a complimentary copy from Tantor Audio. This did not affect my rating and my review is voluntarily provided. 
Rating: 4.5 Bookworms
Challenges: #AudioChallenge, #BloggerShame, #COYER, #ShelfLove
Goodreads

Synopsis
The pleasure of your company is requested at Warbury Park. Four lovely ladies will arrive... but only one can become a duchess.

James, the scandalously uncivilized Duke of Harland, requires a bride with a spotless reputation for a strictly business arrangement. Lust is prohibited and love is out of the question.

Four ladies. Three days. What could go wrong?

She is not like the others...

Charlene Beckett, the unacknowledged daughter of an earl and a courtesan, has just been offered a life-altering fortune to pose as her half-sister, Lady Dorothea, and win the duke's proposal. All she must do is:

* Be the perfect English rose [Ha!]
* Breathe, smile, and curtsy in impossibly tight gowns [blast Lady    Dorothea's sylph-like figure]
* Charm and seduce a wild duke [without appearing to try]
* Keep said duke far, far from her heart [no matter how tempting]

When secrets are revealed and passion overwhelms, James must decide if the last lady he should want is really everything he needs. And Charlene must decide if the promise of a new life is worth risking everything...including her heart.

First thing, I have to confess I picked How the Duke Was Won solely because it was narrated by Beverley A. Crick. I listened to Crick once before and am a total fangirl (thanks, Berls!). Her narration is more a dramatic interpretation - a total aural delight! Her delivery is How the Duke Was Won solidified my opinion so I know I'll be seeking her out more. Her accents and range for every character plus her ability to be consistent with them is impressive. And she makes me feel as though I'm watching a play rather than listening to an audiobook. She's incredible!

As for the actual story...Lenora Bell is a new-to-me author and with How the Duke Was Won, she earned a fan in me. The story is well-constructed, flowed well, was engaging, kept me guessing, and the characters were well-drawn and compelling.

Charlene, the feisty and outspoken young woman who is so compassionate she'd do just about anything to secure the freedom of her mother and so many other young women desire but have not other option than to sell themselves. Charlene also was determined to protect her younger sister from the world they'd been born into. Charlene wasn't meek or docile. No, she gave her opinion freely, especially to the Duke and most especially when she felt he was doing wrong.

James, the newly-minted Duke of Harland, never wanted the title or the responsibility. His plan is to secure a respectable wife - to garner respect for himself - as well as a connected family who will solve his tax issues. However, being that James is anything but a well-mannered Englishman, he can't help but be drawn to Charlene's vivacity and impropriety. Unfortunately, she isn't who she's claiming to be and therefore doesn't suit his designs.

Oh but I had fun watching these two fall. They both tried with all their might not to, for vastly different reasons, but they couldn't help themselves. Then there was the suspense over whether James would figure out things and what his reaction would be on top of worrying over an issue Charlene and her mother were dealing with. I appreciated the history lessons on child labor laws, chocolate, and taxes on imports and exports. In all, How the Duke Was Won is a bundle of goodness delivered and brought to brilliant life by a talented author and narrator.

#OctobeRecFest Review ~ The Scandalous, Dissolute, No-Good Mr. Wright ~ Tessa Dare

The Scandalous, Dissolute, No-Good Mr. Wright by Tessa Dare
Release Date: December 11, 2012
Genre: Adult, Historical Romance
Rating: 4.5 Bookworms
Challenges: #ShelfLove
Recommended by: Lexxie @(un)Conventional Bookviews
Goodreads

Synopsis
(Originally appeared in the e-book anthology Three Weddings and a Murder.)

Miss Eliza Cade is a lady in waiting. And waiting.

Because of a foolish mistake in her youth, she's not allowed "out" in Society until her three older sisters are wed. But while she's trying to be good, she keeps bumping elbows--and, more distressingly, lips--with notorious rake Harry Wright. Every moment she spends with him, she risks complete ruin.

The sensual passions he stirs in her are so wrong...but Eliza just can't resist Mr. Wright.

Omigosh, this was so much fun! I was in desperate need of a palate cleanser and Miss Eliza and Mr. Wright served well!

Eliza is exactly how I'd like to think I'd have been if I'd lived in Regency England - feisty, free-spirited, and a girl who bristles at convention. It certainly made her lively and entertaining as I was always curious to see what she'd say or do next. Some might think her selfish but in getting better acquainted with her, I saw she was a very generous soul.

Mr. Wright certainly seemed a rake! From his first meeting with Eliza, he did his absolute best to rankle and get under her skin. He accomplished his goal with great skill. This made for snarky banter as well as incredible sexual tension. Getting to know him better though, I learned he had a good heart and could make a good match for Eliza.

I think my only complaint would be that things wrapped up rather quickly. That's not to say the story wasn't well-crafted because it was. And I obviously adored the characters. It was just that things went quickly at the end. I do, however, look forward to my next meeting with Ms. Dare.

#OctobeRecFest Review ~ The Rest Falls Away ~ Colleen Gleason

The Rest Falls Away by Colleen Gleason
Release Date: January 2, 2007
Genre: Adult, Historical Paranormal Romance
Rating: 5 Bookworms
Challenges: #ShelfLove
Recommended by: Lorna @Rabid Reads
Goodreads

Synopsis
Beneath the glitter of dazzling nineteenth century London Society lurks a bloodthirsty evil...

Vampires have always lived among them, quietly attacking unsuspecting debutantes and dandified lords as well as hackney drivers and Bond Street milliners. If not for the vampire slayers of the Gardella family, these immortal creatures would have long ago taken control of the world.

In every generation, a Gardella is called to accept the family legacy, and this time, Victoria Gardella Grantworth is chosen, on the eve of her debut, to carry the stake. But as she moves between the crush of ballrooms and dangerous moonlit streets, Victoria's heart is torn between London's most eligible bachelor, the Marquess of Rockley, and her dark, dangerous duty.

And when she comes face-to-face with the most powerful vampire in history, Victoria must ultimately make a choice between duty and love.

Prepare yourselves for a gushing review. I picked up The Rest Falls Away because I was in the mood for vampires and Lorna had recommended this one. It wasn't exactly what I had in mind when I decided vampires but it absolutely hit the sweet spot!

Gleason delivered a well-crafted introduction to the Gardella world in Regency England. Her conveyance of the life of a daughter's duty, life among the ton, etc., was very well done. Her creation of a vampire mythos and a class of people dedicated to eradicating the world of the evil of vampires was fascinating. The characters, both primary and secondary, were robust and compelling and Gleason didn't shy away from making any of them possibly unsavory, morally questionable, and the like. I found each of the characters to be interesting in their own way and they all added something integral to the story.

I'd be lying if I said I didn't draw comparisons between Victoria and Buffy. *wink* That this vampire slayer lives in the 1800's only added to my enchantment. Max and Aunt Eustacia, the Marquess, Sebastian, even Verbena, all made for a colorful cast that I'm completely invested in.

The ending...GAH! That was gut-wrenching but then I was also torn in my feelings - which I suppose make it all the more gut-wrenching. But it also made it very difficult to turn off my kindle and move on to my next read considering I have the boxset and book #2 was sitting there staring at me.

Honestly, I could go on and on about all the reasons The Rest Falls Away tripped my trigger. Bottom line though: It did. In a big way. I can't wait to continue. Thanks, Lorna!

**Jumble Your Genres Review ~ Lord Rakehell's Love ~ Donna Cummings**

This month's Jumble Your Genres genre was Historical Fiction. My pick was Historical Fiction/Romance. ;) 

***

Lord Rakehell's Love

The Curse of True Love #1

Release Date: August 27, 2013

Genre: Historical Romance

Source: Purchased ecopy on Amazon

Rating: 4 Bookworms

Goodreads

Synopsis

Aphrodite, the Goddess of Love, is playing matchmaker in Regency London...only it seems she's placed a curse on the lovers instead.

~~He was late to his own wedding~~

Simon is known as Lord Rakehell, so any same woman would be wary of wedding a man of his reputation. He loves Georgiana, and is determined to prove it to her, but how can he overcome his wedding-day blunder?

~~She was heartbroken by the scandal~~

Georgiana knew the dangers of falling instantly in love with a celebrated rake, but even she had not expected him to show up for their nuptials with ladies-of-the-evening in tow. Now she must determine whether Simon's protestations of love are genuine, or if she is being led astray by the passion he continues to incite in her.

I one-clicked Lord Rakehell's Love (and Lord Wastrel) shortly after reading lovely reviews of it from Lexxie @Unconventional Book Views. I'm eager to get to the next installment as Lord Rakehell's Love was every bit the delight Lexxie promised it would be.

Aphrodite is bored and decides she wants to dabble in matchmaking, in Regency London no less. She and Ares set about it but decide there should be a little challenge in it. They decide their couple should be one seemingly ill-suited for one another...a rake and a wallflower.

Georgiana Kirkwood is a wallflower but a beautiful, clever, and witty one. Simon Blakely, Lord of Winbourne, is better known as Lord Rakehell among the ton. He is dashing and a complete rogue. But it's his roguish ways that attract Georgiana in the first place. After a whirlwind courtship, their wedding day has arrived...but the groom has not. Following the fallout, I liked seeing the softer side of Simon. The side of him that is beside himself for the mistake he made. He was desperate to win Georgiana back. Georgiana wants to forgive Simon. But she's worried the risk may cause her even more heartache. I liked seeing her sensible side. She's not going to accept Simon back so easily.

The banter between Georgiana and Simon is so playful and witty. The chemistry between them is clear and it was easy to see the attraction between them was solid. This is a short, sweet read and I was pretty satisfied with the story. Although I always enjoy lots of character development and would have enjoyed more here, I didn't find the story lacking. The humor in it all made it delightful. And I enjoyed meeting Lord Wastrel, Simon's friend, as well as Felicia, Georgiana's friend and confidante. The next book involves them. I'm keen to see what Aphrodite has in store for them.