Daring and the Duke (The Bareknuckle Bastards #3) by Sarah MacLean

Finally!  The last book of the Bareknuckle Bastards series by Sarah MacLean. This book is Grace and Ewan’s story.  We saw glimpses of Grace in the first two books and only “heard” about Ewan.  I have to confess, he did not sound like a very redeemable character. Devil and Whit were keeping Grace safe by telling Ewan that she had died.  She remade herself into Dahlia and she ran the swankiest brothel in London for women.  I did not look up the historical accuracy of this, but I love the twist.  Why not have rich women pay for sex?  The men in Victorian times always do. Well, Ewan was out for vengeance, and this is woven throughout the story.  He was known as the Mad Duke of Marwick because he was so eccentric.  It seemed that he had been in mourning for his only true love.

This is definitely a story of redemption.  I was convinced that I would not like Ewan, but the back story helped.  It was rather sinister that Ewan had a lot to gain from Grace’s death, but knowing there is a happily ever after...this had to resolve itself.

I think it’s rare that Victorian Historical Romances take place in the darkest, smelliest parts of London.  It is unique to see Covent Garden instead of Mayfair as the setting.  I also like that the characters are a bit freer from social constraints.  There is a moral code, but totally different than society visits.  There are a lot of flashbacks in this story that fill in all the holes from the previous two books. The twist at the end was satisfying and somewhat unexpected.  I also really love the beautiful cover.  The yellow (gold) dress was the perfect complement to Grace’s personality. 

Say Yes to the Duke by Eloisa James book review

Boo! To me - for jumping into this fun series at the fifth book!!! Honestly, this is something I try to avoid doing because I have a thing for reading books in series order. Say Yes to the Duke by Eloisa James totally hooked me and now I have to read the other ones. Since I did it, it can totally be read as a stand-alone. The Wilde family are the celebrities of London during their time. Anyone that does anything in public it is published in the papers and postcards. They seem to fan the flames of the gossip mill.

This story is about Viola Astley. Her mother became the third Duchess of Lindow, and Viola was just raised in the Wilde nursery. Her stepfather and stepsiblings view her just as much a Wilde as any of them. This part of her background really affects her self confidence and contributes to her being so shy. She has put off talking to eligible men because they terrify her. However, there is a new vicar in town who is cute, nice and Viola does not get nervous talking to him. He is already engaged, but Viola still has a bit of a crush on him. She has been writing him notes and made arrangements to meet him during a ball in the library. Unfortunately, the Duke of Wynter was discussing what he was looking for in the perfect duchess for him and Viola and her sister Joan were part of the unflattering (and mean) conversation.

Viola told the Duke she would never allow him to marry her sister and blows him off. Of course, the Duke, Devin Elstan, is intrigued by this behavior. He can’t stop thinking about her because she stood up to him. Viola told Devin in no uncertain terms, that she was not interested in ever being a Duke’s wife. I loved getting to know Devin and Viola and as the story progresses, you begin to see how perfect they are for each other. The chemistry is definitely there and their personalities complement each other.

This is a well-written story with great characters. The dialogue and the setting held my attention and I enjoyed discovering how they would end up together. I’m also glad that I was introduced to a great new series and I have lots to read this summer. This is the perfect summer read!

Midnight Abduction by Nichole Severn book review

This is the third book of the Tactical Crime Division series. If you love romantic suspense, you need to go get this book! This story revolves around Ana Ramirez and Benning Reeves. Ana left Benning about 7 years ago and it is obvious to the reader that they still have some sizzling chemistry between them. Benning calls Ana to help him find his kidnapped twins. He has the most faith in her ability to track down the kidnapper and figure out what is going on.

Ana views this case as a chance to help a friend, save lives and prove that she is a good agent. The twins in this story really add a lot as secondary characters. Olivia is very bright and imagines herself to be an investigator when she grows up. The bond between the twins and Benning is very heartwarming and you can see right away that he will do anything for his children.

The story itself is action-packed and will keep you on the edge of your seat. There is definitely a violent criminal element in the story. Benning and Ana are injured during some encounters, but they keep fighting for the children. Lots of twists and turns. I don’t think you will be able to put down the book until you finish. If you like the other books in this series, definitely give this one a try. It can also be read as a standalone. I read them out of order without realizing it at first and I don’t think it took anything away from the stories. I definitely enjoy the happily ever afters in this series. We all need some feel-good moments during these stressful times.