Book Review: The Duke Deal by Valerie Bowman

Author: Valerie Bowman

Title: The Duke Deal

Series: The Whitmorelands #1

Genre: Historical Romance

Format: ebook

Pages: 161

Published: November 1, 2022

Where I Got It: My shelf (Bookbub)

Summary: 

She wants a favor. He has ONE condition.

The honeymoon is over…

When Veronica said “I do” to Sebastian Sinclair, Duke of Edgefield, she thought all her dreams had come true. He was dashing and doting, and she absolutely adored him—until he betrayed her trust, shattering their marriage, and her heart, into a million tiny bits. She hasn’t seen her husband in the two years since, and she’d just as soon make it twenty. But when she learns that her beloved grandfather’s dying wish is for her and Sebastian to attend the family’s Christmastide celebration, she swallows her pride and asks him a favor: to pretend they’re the happy couple they once were.

But the passion still simmers.

Sebastian is shocked to find his lovely duchess on his doorstep, but he’s ready and willing to play the part of a devoted husband for the Christmas season…if Veronica will grant him a favor in return. All he asks is that she share his bed every night. All night. And maybe even give him the heir he needs.

Could their love be the real deal?

Veronica must be mad to agree—especially since Sebastian seems intent on using every weapon in his arsenal to charm and seduce her. She knows it’s just pretend and yet, she can’t help but wonder if the falling snow and Christmas cheer will work a little magic. Maybe she and Sebastian will end up with more than either of them bargained for…

Review:

When I saw this on Bookbub as a freebie for me I had no choice but to pick it up. Love this author and dukes? Yes, please!!!!

Veronica and Sebastian married two years ago. It was a love match and they were happy...until they weren't. She caught Sebastian in a lie and with the trust gone how could she ever trust him again? Two years go by and they have not seen each other. Now they are forced together to celebrate the holidays with Veronica's ailing grandfather. 

Oooooooo you stubborn fools!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I just wanted to shake Veronica and even Sebastian. They were too stubborn to stay and fight. They both had some trauma from their childhood and refused to listen to each other or explain. TALK YOU FOOLS TALK!

I love Justin, Veronica's brother, who finally has enough and decides to help. Bless him. I adore him.

I loved, loved the ending. Made me chuckle. 

My only issue was the internal monologue copy-pasting. Oh...my...gawd. We get it. We truly get why you have issues with the other and themselves. Sighs. 

All-in-all this was a fun second chances romance. It was nice when they finally woke up and found each other again. Some copy-pasting, but worth it to watch them work through it. I do want to read more esp if Justin gets to fall in love. He's a gem. 3 stars from me. 

Challenge(s):

- #24 for Romance Reading Challenge - Xmas setting

Blodeuedd's Monday Review: Gray Mountain by John Grisham

Format: 384 pages, Hardcover

Published: October 23, 2014 by Hodder & Stoughton Ltd

Thriller fiction /Library

It has been ages since I read a Grisham novel. I always like them, all that law talk makes it thrilling.

And here is even more stuff I have no idea about, Big coal. Damn dirty business.

Samantha looses her job, but to keep her hanging on her job tells her to work for a non profit for a year. Which takes her to coal country and a  legal aid clinic.

Omg, yes it is fiction, but pretty sure he knows his stuff. Like coal truck accidents. That was horrific. How things goes wrong when they blow things up. When dams break. Black lungs. Cancer clusters. And how Big Coal screws everyone over, and has everyone in their pocket.

Top mining? Was that the word? Blowing up mountain tops and going down. Nature effed over.

Samantha comes in to help and gets dragged in to big coal. And honestly how it ends, it was not that uplifting. The fight continues. But as long as they need coal then coal is there

Interesting story

One week ago, Samantha Kofer was a third-year associate at New York City's largest law firm. Now she is an unpaid intern in a legal aid clinic deep in small-town Appalachia. When Lehman Brothers collapsed, she lost her job, her security, her future. As she confronts real clients with real problems, she finds herself a world away from her past life of corporate fat cats and fatter bonuses. This is coal country. Meth country. The law is different here. 

Book Review: Embrace the Lace by Shannon Macleod

Author: Shannon Macleod

Title: Embrace the Lace

Genre: SciFi, Fantasy, Historical Romance

Format: ebook

Pages: 321

Published: March 21, 2023

Where I Got It: My shelf (Netgalley)

Summary: 

Widowed Andrew MacIver has problems and responsibilities aplenty. At twenty and five, he is already chieftain of his large clan. His castle is in a state of disrepair, his cook is clueless and to make matters worse, his uncle appears dead set on taking his job. He doesn’t have time to admit he is lonely, but he does need to remarry – and quickly, for the clan expects their laird to have a wife and heirs. He needs the perfect noble lady, decorous, competent, and obedient. The upcoming clan gathering seems the perfect opportunity to renew allegiances, find a suitable bride and get married, in that order. Well…that was the plan, anyway. But then the fae got involved.

Loveable geek Paisley Evangeline Darling – Van to her friends – wants one last adventure before going off to complete her master’s degree in mechanical engineering like her hero Tony Stark. On the very first night at the SCA renaissance festival, she is snatched kicking and screaming back to 17th century Scotland, nearly drowning in the process. Andrew, her handsome rescuer, is stressed out and intent on helping her find her way home, but she is having way too much fun to leave. Who better than a smart, free spirited and independent 21st century lass to bring a little love and laughter back into the exasperated laird’s dull life? After all, what could possibly go wrong?

Caution: Contains meddlesome faeries, questionable inventions, culinary miracles, one ferocious dragon, a heroine with zero regard for convention, and a reluctant hero with his hands full.

Review:

I saw this and knew I had to check it out. Who doesn't love a good time-traveling romance set in Scotland?????

Andrew has a lot on his plate and doesn't have time for anything. He needs a new wife to help him create an heir for his clan. With the upcoming clan gathering...this will be the perfect opportunity to renew allegiances and find a suitable bride. However, he needs a break. When he takes his horse out for a ride, he will soon discover his world is about to change forever thanks to a nosy Fae. Van wants an adventure before going off to complete her master's degree in mechanical engineering so she decides to go to the SCA Renaissance Festival which is a complete and totally immersive experience. Little does she know...she is about to have an adventure into the real deal. 

I feel terrible for admitting this....but I was so annoyed with Van at the beginning that I wanted to scream. She was unrelenting and never stopped talking. She was very sweet and smart and cute and etc...but shut up Van. She did calm down a litttttttle bit later on, but she was a lot to handle. I loved she loved the nerdy stuff and was a whiz with the engineering and building....but sweet lord did I want to shake her. 

Andrew was sweet and grumpy. Just how I like 'em ;) 

This does have some humor and honestly...you can't take this story too seriously. It was a lot of fun. Van is very sweet in her own way (even though she never, ever stops talking) and brightens up the castle. She brought joy back and had people laughing again. The catapult scene made me warm up to her a bit. 

Some plot devices were very, very flimsy and too convenient...like the ending with Van's parents. Mmmm. Take it with a grain of salt. This was very light. I found that this was the Hallmark of Time Travel romances. Nothing too serious and everything was easily solved.

However, I did have fun with this. It was sweet and quick and had humor. The love was there and it was sweet. Van needed to calm down, but she was an interesting character and maybe it was just a me thing. If you are looking for something light...check this out. I'll give it 3 stars. 

Audiobook Review: Undercover Bromance by Lyssa Kay Adams

Author: Lyssa Kay Adams

Narrator: Andrew Eiden
Title: Undercover Bromance

Series: Bromance Book Club #2

Genre: Contemporary Romance, Chick Lit
Published: March 10, 2020

Where I Got It: Borrowed from Library

Summary: 

Braden Mack thinks reading romance novels makes him an expert in love, but he’ll soon discover that real life is better than fiction. 

Liv Papandreas has a dream job as a pastry chef at Nashville’s hottest restaurant. Too bad the celebrity chef owner is less than charming behind kitchen doors. After she catches him harassing a young hostess, she confronts him and gets fired. Liv vows revenge, but she’ll need assistance to take on the powerful chef.

Unfortunately, that means turning to Braden Mack. When Liv’s blackballed from the restaurant scene, the charismatic nightclub entrepreneur offers to help expose her ex-boss, but she is suspicious of his motives. He’ll need to call in reinforcements: the Bromance Book Club.

Inspired by the romantic suspense novel they’re reading, the book club assists Liv in setting up a sting operation to take down the chef. But they’re just as eager to help Mack figure out the way to Liv’s heart... even though she’s determined to squelch the sparks between them before she gets burned.

Review:

I read book 1 a while back and it was okay. I remember having some issues, but I simply loved the premise so much that I decided to do the next book. This time I found book 2 as an audiobook at the library!

Here we now follow Liv and Braden. Liv is Thea's salty sister who doesn't trust anyone for anything. She has a quick wit and doesn't believe in love. Liv had landed her dream job as a pastry chef at Nashville's hottest restaurant. However, after an incident with a cupcake (thanks a lot Braden) and then catching her boss harassing a young hostess, she is fired. In order to bring down her ex-boss, she will need to team up with Braden. Braden is a rich entrepreneur who is more than happy to bring down that scumbag. He'll need to call in reinforcement....the Bromance Book Club. 

Okay....I hated Liv in book 1. She was just an unrelenting ball of hate. I get their father was a piece of shit, but damn was she overly bitter. She is still bitter and a live wire, but I did warm up to her after seeing her POV and seeing that her hate and wit were a cover. Her dawn of realization at the end made me cheer!!! Yayyyy!

Mack is a good egg. Sure did he suck at being real and actually committing? Yes, but he has trauma too. However, once he fell in love he FELL. You could see how much he cared for Liv and how much Liv cared for him. So much trauma between the two of them that it took FOREVER for them to realize they needed each other. I def see some therapy in the future. Maybe not marriage counseling, but they both need to talk to someone. They both had such a shitty upbringing. 

I really enjoyed this. I loved seeing all of our side characters again and meeting some new friends. Awwwww Liv's landlady was adorable. I loved that side romance. CUTE! And the friendship between Vlad and the chicken made me "aww". I am happy to report that our couple from the first book seems to be living their HEA. I had my doubts, but they seemed to have worked out their issues and were communicating and being happy. Yayy.  

The narrator was fantastic. Even for the girl parts, I was stunned by how perfect his lady voices were. Some were a little similar to each other, but he did well. Guys doing girl voices tend to be harder, but I am content. I hope he does book 3 ;) 

All-in-all, I really enjoyed this one. I had my worries because Liv was unbearable in book 1, but getting inside her head and seeing her slowly warm up to love and trust made me happy. Onto the next! 4 stars from me. 

Challenge(s):

- #49 for Audiobook challenge