The Lady of a Grump
Linda Rae Sande
Historical Regency

He’s a grouch. She’s the reason.

Having said her farewells to her son when he departed for his Grand Tour of Europe, Patience Grayson, the newly widowed Marchioness of Billingsley, heads for the country. She intends to spend at least a year living by herself in the Grayson family estate in Shropshire.

If only her traveling coach could make it that far. When a wheel breaks, it does so in a most inconvenient location.

Saddled with an earldom left nearly bankrupt by his late father’s gambling and drinking, Max Higgins, Earl of Greenley, hasn’t had a good day for over twenty years—not since the woman he was supposed to marry threw him over for another. Ever since, his bitterness has him known throughout the peerage as the Earl of Grump. Although he found another to be his countess, the poor woman died giving birth to his heir, some say to escape his surly moods.

Max’s solitude in his Staffordshire country manor house is about to be shattered when the cause of his grumpiness invades his home—and his bedchamber—on a late winter night.

Will life ever be the same?

Uncaged Review: In London, Lady Patience Billingsley sends her beloved son, Thomas, the Marquess on his ground tour and realizes that she can finally relax at Grayson Park. Patience tells Thomas to make sure that he writes to her there. At Higgins House in Staffordshire, Maxwell Higgins, seventh Earl of Greenley, tried to hide his harsh temperament from the world, especially from his lost beloved, Patience. When, suddenly, Maxwell hears a loud knock on his door. Maxwell wonders who would bother him in his solitude, so he is utterly surprised when he sees Patience is in dire straits at his door, needing shelter. Maxwell, being a gentleman, can’t turn Patience away but decides, since she hurt him, he won’t let her into his heart again. As Patience stays though, Maxwell begins an affair with her, but can’t imagine his life without her and neither can his staff. Still, Maxwell isn’t willing to lose his heart again when so much is at stake.

When a novella is written very well, you hardly miss a full-length novel and know that the tale leaves you wonderfully satisfied, no matter the length. This book does that easily enough that you aren’t questioning everyone else and their story. That is what I really enjoy about this novel and admire when the authors pull it off effortlessly. Ms. Linda Rae Sandes does it with such ease and also writes such charming, charismatic characters that they even become a part of you too! Patience might be a widow, but it isn’t hard to associate with her. While Maxwell, the surly hero, isn’t so untouchable that you don’t want to know him but find the softness that he keeps carefully hidden. Will I read more? Of course, I will and if all the stories entice me, so I won’t delay either! Reviewed by Roslynn Ernst

4.5 Stars

The Rake’s Convenient Bride
Madeline Martin
Historical Regency

A wallflower who trips through life…

Lady Elizabeth Ashbrook is something of a klutz. Only this time the quiet, bookish young lady has literally fallen directly into the path of none other than the notoriously rakish Earl of Darington.

When an accidental encounter appears rather compromising, Lady Elizabeth does what any sensible young lady would, and declares they are engaged.

Even rakes can act the gentleman when necessary and Lord Darington does so by allowing her lie to stand, thus saving her reputation with the ridiculous claim. After all, they only need to be “betrothed” for a few weeks before calling their engagement off.

And it will be called off. Lord Darington is enticing, smooth-talking, and as sure in his footing as he is in his own confidence. That is to say, he is everything Lady Elizabeth is not and the kind of gentleman that should make any lady guard her heart.

In all possible ways, they are entirely ill-suited for one another…aren’t they?

Uncaged Review: A terrific regency romance that I read in one day. The characters are endearing and I fell in love with Jasper and Elizabeth, and Elizabeth’s fun friends. The friends have made a pact to not get married, but after being caught in a compromising position at a ball, Elizabeth blurts out that her and Jasper are engaged, and Jasper, ever the gentleman, goes along with the fake engagement.

I love that Elizabeth is not perfect and I love how Jasper always comes to her rescue and it will take Jasper to deal with his past to know he can love. The Dowager Darington is a great character and there are many fun moments within this book. This one was very difficult to put down and I was almost sad it was over. The epilogue is always a nice touch. Reviewed by Cyrene

5 Stars

The Hunt for Mr. October
Tabetha Waite
Historical Romance

It had been the moment Elwood Tyburne, the Earl of Belmont, was dreading for months. Ever since that Brazen Belle and her dastardly, Rake Review had started wreaking havoc upon all of his friends and acquaintances—some of which were wrongly accused—he had been in a state of panic. While Elwood would admit that he was a scoundrel, he didn’t care to have the finger of justice pointing directly at him, turning him into some kind of twisted man of prominence, where he couldn’t walk down the street without being heckled. He despised the attention, especially when he hadn’t done anything—lately. In truth, he’d been doing his best to lay low. He hadn’t gone to his favorite gaming hells for weeks, and he had gone so far as to dare to give up his favorite mistress. Unfortunately, it didn’t seem that the intrigue was going to die down anytime soon, and it appeared he was about to have additional trouble in one tenacious lady…

Meliah Newton is on the search for the elusive Earl of Belmont. She has a dream to become a respected journalist, just like the Brazen Belle. She’s convinced that if she could prove that Lord Belmont is a complete ne’er-do-well, she would finally get the recognition she has been longing to obtain. To her dismay, the man seems to be more of a challenge than she expected, but she has never been the sort to give up easily, and she perseveres, finally cornering the rat in his hole. What she hadn’t expected from all this was her flaming attraction to him, nor the way her body melts under his expert touch. She knows he’s only trying to seduce her away from him, but it’s only drawing her closer.

Uncaged Review: What a truly fun and fanciful tale! In this story, Elwood Tyburne, Earl of Belmont was not happy. The gossip rag “The Rake Review” has declared him an un-marriageable rake that must be avoided. Elwood was in truth that, but he didn’t want to be declared as one. So, Elwood’s only way not to be judged so harshly by the ton is to hide away from London in his father’s hunting box. Unfortunately, Miss Meliah Newton, the weaver’s daughter and aspiring writer, laughed at his escape costume and wanted to know if the outlandish stories of his behavior are true? Elwood will give Meliah exactly what she wants as long as she goes with him to the hunting box. As Meliah stays with Elwood, she finds out his true nature and falls for him, but knows in her heart that they can never be together. Of course, when Elwood finds out who Meliah really is, will he still want to be with her anyway?

This novella was just utterly delightful! Okay, the improbability of the classes between these characters was not likely, but if you could get past that and suspend some belief, then this could totally happen. Besides the truly excellent writing, the plot twists and the wonderful characters are really what makes me believe anything can happen, even a rags-to-riches story that will just make me laugh and smile. Sure, the book is part of a series, but Ms. Tabetha Waite pulled me into the novel, and I was sad to see it end. Elwood might have been a rake, but I didn’t mind and if rakes were this ultimately nice, then they could be as rakish as they want. Meliah was also a charming, feisty heroine that I would love to be friends with as well. I can’t wait to read another tale from Ms. Waite and eagerly look forward to more of her stories too! Reviewed by Roslynn Ernst

4.5 Stars