A Lady for a Duke by Alexis Hall

Two out of Five Stars

Summary

When Viola Caroll was presumed dead at Waterloo she took the opportunity to live, at last, as herself. But freedom does not come without a price, and Viola paid for hers with the loss of her wealth, her title, and her closest companion, Justin de Vere, the Duke of Gracewood.

Only when their families reconnect, years after the war, does Viola learn how deep that loss truly was. Shattered without her, Gracewood has retreated so far into grief that Viola barely recognises her old friend in the lonely, brooding man he has become.

As Viola strives to bring Gracewood back to himself, fresh desires give new names to old feelings. Feelings that would have been impossible once and may be impossible still, but which Viola cannot deny. Even if they cost her everything, all over again.

Review

I love Alexis Hall’s work. But this was a complete miss for me. I feel like I may be one of the few people who didn’t enjoy this. Which makes me wonder, what did I miss? I was excited to read a trans, historical romance.

Viola Caroll, presumed dead at Waterloo, took this as her opportunity to live as she truly is. She lost her status, her friends, and most importantly, the Duke of Gracewood.

The families reunite and Viola sees how her decision impacted her dearest friend. He’s lost himself in grief, pain, and suffers from PTSD. He lives in a fog of laudanum and alcohol. His sister, who needs to be presented to society, is suffering due to this. As Viola inches further into Gracewood’s life, chaperoning his sister, she becomes closer to the man who’s friendship she cherished in the war so much.

I had a few issues while reading this. The pacing was sluggish. It took me to about 50% in to actually get interested in what was happening. I was close to DNF’ing this one, but pushed myself to keep reading because of all the other reviews I’ve read. The chemistry between Viola and Gracewood was lacking. I didn’t feel any attraction between the two of them. They just existed.

I was more interested in the secondary storyline, involving Gracewood’s sister, rather than Viola and his story.

What I did like, was they romance was NOT fade to black. Which is what you get with so many novels featuring a trans character. It was handled delicately and read just like a romance in the regency era would read.

The portrayal of a character suffering from PTSD in this time period was what I personally feel to be as accurate. It was a misunderstood illness and Gracewood did what he could to deal with his time in war – drug and alcohol abuse.

Overall, it took me several months to read this book. I read twelve other books between starting A Lady for a Duke and finishing it. While this was a definite miss for me, you may enjoy it according to other readers.

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K.A. Merikan – Author Spotlight

Meet the Authors

 

K.A. Merikan are a team of writers who try not to suck at adulting, with some success. Always eager to explore the murky waters of the weird and wonderful, K.A. Merikan don’t follow fixed formulas and want each of their books to be a surprise for those who choose to hop on for the ride.

K.A. Merikan have a few sweeter M/M romances as well, but they specialize in the dark, dirty, and dangerous side of M/M, full of bikers, bad boys, mafiosi, and scorching hot romance.

 

Purchase your copy here

“What I find in my territory is mine to keep. Even if it’s a man.”

Jag. Uninhibited. Possessive. Walks on the wild side.
Dane. Gentle giant. Monster lover. Plays it safe.

Dane always knew his illicit fantasies of rough sex and dangerous men would one day lead him down a path of no return, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t stay away.

After being beaten half to death by his ex, he wakes up in a collar, chained to a wall by a wild man who claims Dane as his property.

From the moment Jag lays his eyes on Dane, he knows he wants to keep him. Big, strong, with colorful ink all over, he is the most unique man Jag had ever seen. But Dane has to be tamed if he is to become Jag’s mate for life.

All Jag needs to do is assure Dane that he will be protected and provided for, because the sparks are already flying. But Dane keeps nagging about irrelevant things like his family, responsibilities, and the Internet. No wonder Jag needs to keep him chained for longer than he expected.

The only way out for Dane is to play the role of Jag’s obedient, loving ‘mate’, and bide his time until he can escape. But while Jag is absolutely batshit, and his junkyard den lifestyle is insanity, he also showers Dane with treats, worships the ground he walks on, and f*cks him like a monster, the way Dane always dreamed of in his most secret fantasies.

 

        

        

 

Things to know when reading any K.A. Merikan Book – They are DARK. But if you drop by Goodreads or look at the synopsis available on Amazon, the trigger warnings are posted for you to make the decision if you would like to read the book. I strongly recommend everyone read their trigger warning lists before purchasing a K.A. Merikan book. 

If you like dark romances, extremely alpha type men, and even books featuring a lot of folklore, these are definitely books you’d want to read. 

I’ve read the beginning books of several of their series, but I have to pace myself when reading them. I’m not one to dip my toes into dark romances, but when I want to, I always find myself drawn to their work.

 

Connect with the Authors

Website * Twitter * Patreon * Facebook 

Jaclyn Quinn – Author Spotlight

Meet the Author

Jaclyn has been an artist from a very young age. From drawing cartoon characters and evolving into portraits, making jewelry, photography, and now writing. She has an amazing support system in her family and friends and couldn’t be more grateful.

She lives in central New Jersey, love summers at the Jersey Shore, rock music, wine, sexy men, and laughing a lot with her amazing friends and family. Sunday dinners at her parents’ house are crazy, hysterical and you can count on a movie quote…or ten…being thrown out. Insults between siblings is how they show our love for each other!

When she’s not creating, you can find her reading books from her favorite authors. She is a hopeless romantic, starving for passionate characters and always craving that happy ending, whether in reading or in writing my own books.

Purchase your copy here

Ford Ashton
They say you never forget your first. Who’s they, you ask? Good question. I wish I had the answer because I’ve tried everything to get Abe Manning off my mind. Now he’s here, in Coral Pointe Inlet, staying in the inn that I co-own with my four best friends. Okay, I may have had something to do with that, but these thoughts are driving me crazy. I need to know what happened all those years ago, because if the saying is true, how was it so easy for Abe to forget about me?

Abe Manning
A free trip to Coral Pointe Inlet, the shore town that is the very definition of paradise, is exactly what I need. The best part being there’s no chance of running into two lying liars who lie. For the first time in a long time, I’m able to take a much-needed deep breath. That is, until my past shows up on the beach with a sexy smile and an unexpected confession. It was hard enough forgetting him the first time, and now here he is again—a temptation I’d never been able to deny. I have to admit, though, it’s incredible to know I still have the ability to fluster Ford.

Flustering Ford is book 3 in the Shore Thing series. While it can be read as a standalone, it’s recommended that the reader get to know this hilarious group of friends in Coral Pointe Inlet by starting with book 1.

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While Writing ….

I actually can’t listen to anything while writing. I’m easily distracted. Lol

I do, however, always have a lemon-lime seltzer next to me. Not very exciting! Haha

I’m a pantser…which isn’t always easy. I’ve never been good at making outlines.

I absolutely love writing books about found family and small towns. I throw my quirky humor into every book, even the more serious ones.

Connect with Jaclyn Quinn

Website * Facebook Reader Group * Twitter * Instagram * TikTok

Davidson King – Author Spotlight

Meet the Author

Davidson King, always had a hope that someday her daydreams would become real-life stories. As a child, you would often find her in her own world, thinking up the most insane situations. It may have taken her awhile, but she made her dream come true with her first published work, Snow Falling.

She managed to wrangle herself a husband who matched her crazy and they hatched three wonderful children.

If you were to ask her what gave her the courage to finally publish, she’d tell you it was her amazing family and friends. Support is vital in all things and when you’re afraid of your dreams, it will be your cheering section that will lift you up.

Purchase your copy here

Peace has descended on Black Veil once more, and hope is on the horizon.

Until a new threat arises…

Emil is the head of security, first line of defense for Cain and Black Veil. He takes great pride in his job, is fully prepared to sacrifice everything in order to keep everyone he cares about safe and the world from crumbling. But the Tritons and Sirens have approved a treaty, and the dragons will most likely agree to allow vampires to use their blood for sustenance and protection once again, so all is as it should be. Then Emil meets the emperor of dragons, and his life goes from calm to chaotic in the blink of an eye—loyalty and love now battle for dominance in his head.

Aldrich is the emperor of dragons, and he cannot afford to make mistakes. He and his clans enter Black Veil in the hopes that The Blood Boss will join them in the fight to save his family. Aldrich is ready to lay down his life and for anything else thrown his way—except the crystal-eyed vampire who immediately captures his interest. Emil is everything he has always wanted and would never dare dream of, and when all he holds dear is threatened, it’s Emil who keeps his dragon grounded.

When unimaginable dangers swarm into Black Veil, the vampires and dragons join forces and call upon every living creature in Black Veil to defeat the enemy. While love blooms, lives perish, all to fight a war against the darkness threatening to consume the world. Will Emil and Aldrich claim victory and have their happily ever after, or are they doomed to an eternity apart?

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The Writing Process

Emperor of Dragons playlist:

Breath and Life by Paul Dinletir, Audiomachine
To The Stars by Randy Edelman
Play With Fire by Sam Tinnesz, Yacht Money
Angels Will Rise by Twisted Jukebox
One Last Dream by Radical Face
Edge of Dark by Armon Jay
Eternal Flame by Audiomachine

When I write I always have to have something to drink. It’s usually coffee, ginger ale, or water with Mio in it.

For snacks, I pick things that won’t yuck up my fingers so usually grapes, almonds, or pretzels.

Favorite Book this year so far? That is hard. The Trouble With Trying To Date A Murderer by Jennifer Cody is certainly up there so I will go with that.

Princess is my cat, best friend, and writing assistant (Picture attached in email) I never owner a cat before her but when I saw her in need of a home something hit me right in the heart. I can’t imagine my life without her.

Connect with Davidson King

Website * Facebook Reader Group  * Instagram * Twitter * Author Facebook

Rachel Bowdler – Author Spotlight

Meet the Author

 

 

Rachel Bowdler grew up and still lives just outside of Manchester, on the edge of West Yorkshire. She was insistent on becoming a dancer until the first time she put pen to paper, and has been writing ever since. After graduating from the University of Salford with a degree in English and Creative Writing, she delved briefly into the world of photography before becoming a freelance romance author, focusing on her passion of representing diverse characters and relationships in her stories, particularly with queer, curvy, and working-class protagonists. Her dream has always been to smell the pages of her own book, and she accomplished this after self-publishing her first novella, Paint Me Yours, in 2021. Her only wish now is that her words make readers feel warm and fuzzy inside – and maybe to see her book on a shelf one day.

When she isn’t assaulting her computer keyboard or daydreaming about fictional people in her pyjamas, you can find her cuddling and walking her talkative dog, Enzo, enjoying and photographing the rural scenery of the local Pennines, wishing it was time to put up her Christmas tree, and painting with watercolours (but not very well!). 

Her festive debut novel, Honeymoon for One, will be brought to readers in November 2022 with Bonnier imprint, Embla Books.

 

Purchase your copy here

Though they are polar opposites in many ways, best friends Bryce and Thea are both attracted to all things horror, including true crime — and to prove it, they co-host weekly podcast episodes of Perfect Crimes together with their producer, Mikey, in the dusty basement of Stone Grange’s local bookstore. When a string of murders suddenly begins to plague their small, unassuming town and the police find themselves at a loss, it seems that there’s nobody more qualified to help solve the mystery.

However, it’s soon realized that Bryce and Thea are already more entangled than they could have ever expected, because the murders follow a pattern. Their pattern. With every case discussed in the podcast comes a new imitation of the circumstances surrounding the victim’s death, and Bryce and Thea find themselves trapped in a dangerous game of cat and mouse with the killer, as their friendship — and feelings that they’ve always left hidden until now — is pushed to its breaking point.

When the evidence begins to pile up, conflicting suspicions of the killer’s identity begin to rise, and friends and acquaintances of the duo become victims; things seem to get closer to them with each death. Can they survive the dark shadow following them around town, and remain the strong-willed, closely connected partners in crime they’ve always been? Or will their obsession with murder prove their undoing in a final, emotional showdown as the killer is revealed?

 

         

Check out the above books in her Pride sale through the month of June!

Saving the Star, a romantic bodyguard suspense with a Hollywood actress who is facing a threat more dangerous than she can grasp; Holding on to Bluebell Lodge, for fans of soft contemporary, small-town, Hallmark-esque rom-coms; and The Fate of Us, which has a hint of magical realism and fantasy as it explores soul mates and past lives. All of these books are 99p/99c!    

Click on the covers to learn more!

 

Connect with Rachel

Website * Twitter * Instagram

 

 

I have playlists for each book I write. I usually listen to a few songs from them before writing or between, but never during because I can’t focus with background noise, unfortunately. Here’s the one I made for Partners in Crime, which was fun because it’s much moodier and darker than my usual works. 

Spotify Playlist for Partners in Crime

 

Alli(son) Temple – Author Spotlight

Meet the Author

 

Whether she knew it then or not, Allison has been a writer since the second grade, when she wrote a short story about a girl and her horse. Her grandmother typed it out for her and said she’d never seen so many quotation marks from a seven-year-old before. Allison took that as a challenge and has tried to break that record in all the stories she’s taken on since then. It’s good to have goals, right?

Allison lives in Toronto with her very patient husband and the world’s cutest team of rescue pets. She tries to split her time between writing, exploring Toronto’s parks, and traveling anywhere that has good wine. Tragically, this leaves no time to clean the house.

Alli writes both F/F and M/M romance novels. 

 

Get your copy here 

A pirate’s home is the sea, sailing beyond the horizon with her true love.

Aboard the Crimson Siren, Captain Cinder finally has the life she’s always dreamed of. Her freedom is restored, her crew is a trustworthy bunch, and the princess who holds her heart is by her side.

But trouble brewing back in Redmere threatens to pull Cinder and Princess Georgina apart before their future can truly begin. Georgina feels a responsibility to help, while Cinder is vehemently against returning to their former home. Instead, she embarks on a dangerous treasure hunt that could cost her everything. Faced with a deadly threat, Cinder pushes everyone around her away just when she needs them most.

Friendships are tested. Risky alliances forged. Yet as storm clouds darken Cinder’s future, one thing becomes painfully clear: Her home is taking on water, and time to save the people she loves is running out.

 

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Connect with Alli

Website * Facebook Reader Group * Instagram * TikTok

Alli Temple created such an elaborate and rich world in The Pirate & Her Princess series. It was so easy to get lost within the pages. As a reader, one of the most important parts of a story, is how genuine it feels. I was able to connect with several of the characters. She made me laugh, grit my teeth, and sigh with relief.

If you are looking for a story that keeps your attention, will definitely keep you from doing anything productive, check out her books! Run, right now. 

 

If you like Alli Temple, check out: Rachel Lacey, Keira Andrews, TJ Klune

Katherine McIntyre – Author Spotlight

Meet the Author

Katherine splits her time writing stories with snark and heart, working with amazing authors to edit their manuscripts into shape, and working on clients as a massage therapist.

In her free time, she is usually going on adventures with her husband, daughter, and friends or diving into a good book and curling up with the cats. She’s an Aries-Taurus cusp–which to any astrology buffs should tell you plenty. If you’re more into Myers-Briggs, I’m an ENFJ.

She’s always wanted to heal and help, probably why she fell into massage and teaching yoga. And that shows through in her writing too–she ended up falling for romance as her primary genre because she adores the intricacies of human relationships and watching how love and affection can really help people heal from their wounds and grow.

She’s huge into family and community, which is probably why you find either family or found-family stories in almost every one of her books. The way people come together is inspiring, and She has an overflowing love for the way people take care of each other. Those relationships are just as important as the romantic ones to her, and she loves highlighting them in her work.

The biggest thing you’ll probably see in her work is hope. That’s not to say she can’t write sad situations or difficulties–our lives and stories are woven with them. But that’s never going to be the takeaway from her work, how the world is broken and trying to wear you down. She’s a realist, so she’s not blind to the tragedy and sadness out there, but she wants to live in the hearts of people who care, who show compassion to one another, and prove that we humans can get something right. She wants to explore how even though we’ve all got the ability to fuck up, we can overcome our mistakes and rise triumphant.

 

Preorder your copy here

Hudson West is the enemy. Nico Shah is trouble. However, when they’re forced to collaborate on a town project, they can’t stop the passion from burning.

Hudson West is the enemy.

The calm, arrogant, stupidly hot owner of the rival restaurant in town never fails to push Nico Shah’s buttons. So when he and Hudson are invited to collaborate to cater the Chesapeake Days festival, he wants to say hell no. But with his mother’s upcoming transplant, he needs that money.

Nico Shah is trouble.

Hudson’s noticed the gorgeous, witty flirt and has veered far away. He’s looking for commitment while Nico’s looking for his next flavor of the night. Except now that they’re working together, neither can ignore the chemistry that’s one spark away from burning down a forest. And when they finally collide, the connection is beyond anything either has experienced.

But with Nico still terrified of the word “boyfriend” and Hudson needing someone who belongs to him, this can only end in heartbreak.

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Connect with the author

Website * Twitter * Instagram * Signed Book Orders * Facebook 

My favorite things about Katherine McIntyre? 

I have a deep love for the characters she creates. I’ve only read part of the Dungeons & Dating series, but I have so much love for what I’ve read. The characters are engaging, fun, and just as nerdy as I am. I absolutely love a good tabletop game and this is the first time I’ve ever seen it portrayed in a novel. It was exciting to see the family that is formed through the course of these games and experiences. 

 

If you like Katherine McIntyre, you should read: D J Jamison, Mary Calmes, Nicky James

Sally Malcom – Author Spotlight

Meet the Author

Sally was bitten by the male/male romance bug in 2016 and hasn’t looked back. Her stories are emotional, sweetly angsty, and always have happy endings.

She also writes tie-in novels for the hit TV shows STARGATE: SG-1 and STARGATE ATLANTIS. To date she’s penned nine STARGATE novels and novellas, and four audio dramas.

Sally lives in South West London with her American husband, two lovely children, and two lazy cats.

Sally has also published one of my all-time favorite books I reread often.

Upcoming Release

Pre-order your copy here

From the outside, it looks like model and influencer Mason Nash has it all—beauty, fame, and fortune. With his star rapidly rising, and a big contract up for grabs, Mason’s on the verge of hitting the big time.

When an opportunity arises to co-host a gardening slot on daytime TV with his ex’s brother, Owen Hunter, Mason is definitely on-board. And he intends to use every trick in the book to make the show a hit—including agreeing to his ruthless producer’s demand to fake a ‘will-they/won’t-they’ romance with his co-host…

Owen Hunter is a gardener with a huge heart and both feet planted firmly on the well-tilled ground. He’s proud of the life he’s built and has absolutely no desire to be on TV—yet somehow he finds himself agreeing to do the show.

It’s definitely not because he’s interested in Mason Nash. The guy might be beautiful—and yeah, his spoiled brat routine presses all Owen’s buttons in the bedroom—but Owen has no interest in a short-term fling with a fame-hungry model.

As the two men get closer, though, Owen starts to believe there’s more to Mason than his beautiful appearance and carefully-curated online persona—that beneath the glitz and glamour is a sweet, sensitive man longing to be loved.

A man Owen might be falling for. A man who might even feel the same.

But in a world of media spin and half-truths, Owen is dangerously out of his depth. And when a ridiculous scandal explodes online, with Owen at its heart, it starts to look as though everything he thought was real is built on lies—including his budding romance with Mason…

 

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Connect with Sally Malcolm

Twitter * Website * Instagram

What’s great about Sally’s Work? 

Sally has a way of putting the reader into the worlds she has created. There were times during reading The Last Kiss that I could even hear the echo of boots upon wooden floors. She creates lush worlds with characters that stay rooted in your heart days after reading. Sally’s style of writing is easy to read, her dialogue flows, and her stories stick with you. 

Who should you read if you like Sally Malcolm’s work?

Joanna Chambers, Cat Sebastian, KJ Charles, Allie Therin

Caitlin Ryan – Author Spotlight

Meet the Author

Caitlin Ryan, a self-proclaimed nerd, hails from Australia. She enjoys spending her time reading, playing video games, tabletop games or getting lost in tv shows or movies in her free time. She lives with her lovely wife and their three cats and two dogs!

            She is just like the rest of us, fangirling over her many girl crushes. In her free time you can find her cross-stitching, reading (and even if she doesn’t have free time), or out hiking enjoying nature.

Her work is available in Kindle Unlimited

Latest Release

Purchase Here

Two coaches. Two teams. One championship. All of the hairspray (and drama).

College cheer coach, Holly Morgan, sacrificed her own cheer dreams to be a mother. She’s spent the past eighteen years building a name for herself at Langley Cunningham College while raising her daughter. Now, Alexis is off to Pride. Holly’s entire life is her team, and that’s fine with her. The small town dating prospects are slim, anyway.

Everyone in cheer knows Sasha Hamilton’s name. Her stunts are legendary and her follower count in the millions. People have big expectations from her now she’s hung up her pom-poms and taken over as head coach of Pride College. Sasha’s life has been cheer since she was seven, coaching is the natural next step for her. Except, she’s not sure she’s going to be a good coach, or even if she wants to be.

Sasha is a huge fan of Holly, Holly’s a big fan of Sasha, but somehow they get off on the wrong foot. It’s going to take some kind of cheer miracle to get them on the same side, especially when their teams are sworn rivals.

Click the thumbnails to purchase!

 

           

     

Connect with Caitlin Ryan

Once Upon a Lesbian Reader Group * Twitter * Website

Love & Other Disasters by Anita Kelly

4 out of 5 Stars

Summary

Recently divorced and on the verge of bankruptcy, Dahlia Woodson is ready to reinvent herself on the popular reality competition show Chef’s Special. Too bad the first memorable move she makes is falling flat on her face, sending fish tacos flying—not quite the fresh start she was hoping for. Still, she’s focused on winning, until she meets someone she might want a future with more than she needs the prize money.

After announcing their pronouns on national television, London Parker has enough on their mind without worrying about the klutzy competitor stationed in front of them. They’re there to prove the trolls—including a fellow contestant and their dad—wrong, and falling in love was never part of the plan.

As London and Dahlia get closer, reality starts to fall away. Goodbye, guilt about divorce, anxiety about uncertain futures, and stress from transphobia. Hello, hilarious shenanigans on set, wedding crashing, and spontaneous dips into the Pacific. But as the finale draws near, Dahlia and London’s steamy relationship starts to feel the heat both in and outside the kitchen—and they must figure out if they have the right ingredients for a happily ever after.

Review

This is a first for Broome’s Books! A story featuring a nonbinary character as a romantic lead! I was so excited to get my hands on Love & Other Disasters. It has such a diverse cast of characters too (like any competition show would have). It featured the friends to lovers, forced proximity, and if you squint a workplace romance.

Dahlia Woodson lands a spot on the cooking competition, Chef’s Special. She’s a bit clumsy, even face plants in the first appearance, but she still is a strong chef giving the classically trained chefs a run for their money.

London Parker is all business when it comes to the competition. They keep their head down and focus on the ingredients in front of them. Dahlia is a little difficult to keep away from. There’s something magnetic about her.

This was such a fun read! I love watching competition shows. It was easy to get lost in the world Dahlia and London were in. I could see the set and their cooking stations. The cute expressions London would make and the kinetic energy that Dahlia was. They were such an adorable pair, but they also had depth to them. They both had conflicts they needed to address and grow from. It wasn’t all flowery rainbows. They challenged each other and went on all these cute dates (even if they weren’t officially labeled as dates).

The romance scenes? Ooh, there were some good ones in there. Some of the things London said to Dahlia were, oh my. The heat between them *fans self* it was fantastic. I’d give it a 2.8 out of 5 on the heat index.

Get your copy here