Linda Rae Sande

This entertaining book presents us with three romances all gloriously intertwined. Three couples whose lives and happiness are all interwoven into an intricate knot that will see them all reach the very best of HEAs. There is even a lovely epilogue showing that our couples' happiness has spanned the years. Yes, I certainly enjoyed it.

Thirty years ago, Michael Cummings, Marquess of Fenwick, and Lady Helena, daughter of the Duke of Woodleigh, loved each other desperately and wanted to marry. Thanks to her cruel, uncaring, unfeeling father, she was forced to marry the Duke of Weston instead. Although it was an arranged marriage, Helena went on to have two children – a son named Alfred, and a daughter named Amelia. The marriage was unhappy, but at least she got her children out of it. Michael went on to marry, though he didn’t love the woman and she knew it. She did love Michael and they were happy even though Michael was always in love with Helena. Michael also went on to have two children – a son named Philip and a daughter named Violet.

Fast forward thirty years and both Michael and Helena are widowed. Michael can hardly wait for Helena’s mourning period to be over so he can see her again. He still loves her as much as he did thirty years ago. Does she still love him? Will she be happy to see him? He hasn’t set foot in London for thirty years – but he is so excited to get back there and see his one true love.

In the meantime (in London) – Michael’s son has fallen madly in love with Helena’s daughter – and she returns that love. Michael and Alfred were friends once, but they had a serious falling out and Alfred has hated Philip since. Michael and Amelia fear Alfred will refuse his permission to marry out of spite. How can they get his approval? There has to be a way.

Violet is Amelia’s best friend and she desperately wants to help convince Alfred to agree to Amelia and Philip marrying. However, he isn't what she expected when she meets Alfred and spends time with him. Why does he seem so different from Amelia’s description of him? He isn’t unpleasant at all? As a matter of fact – it wouldn’t take much for Violet to come to care for him. OOPS!

This is a fun read with characters you will very quickly come to love and you’ll surely be rooting for them all to figure it out – no matter how twisted and convoluted it all seems. Will we get three weddings? You bet we will and it was a blast watching them all work through the pretzel twist of things to get there. I enjoyed this read and can definitely recommend it. I hope you will enjoy it as much as I did. HAPPY READING!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.… (más)

Terrific addition to the Lyon's Den series. Annabelle is recently widowed and has a five-year-old son. She needs another husband so that her son has someone to teach him what he needs to know. But as a former courtesan, Annabelle worries that her past will come back to haunt her. That fear is realized when a former client recognizes her, and she is concerned that he may reveal her secret. Annabelle takes her mother's advice and goes to Mrs. Dove-Lyon for help securing a match.

Jeffrey needs help. Due to the deaths of his father and older brother, Jeffrey has inherited the earldom. Unfortunately, the estate's coffers are empty, leaving him needing a wealthy wife. Upon the advice of his lawyer, he appeals to Mrs. Dove-Lyon for help in finding a rich woman to marry. Having just encountered his former favorite courtesan and inadvertently insulted her, his preferences for a wife are pretty specific.

The first meeting between Jeffrey and Annabelle was quite awkward. Annabelle's fear of being recognized was realized and by the man she has never forgotten. Jeffrey's comment was insulting, and he earned her reaction. I liked his immediate regret and attempted to apologize. He doesn't give up trying to make amends, and his visit the next day has much better results. It doesn't take long for them to reconnect and discover their feelings are as strong as ever. I enjoyed watching their developing relationship. Both quickly regret their arrangements with Mrs. Dove-Lyon, but they are committed and must follow through. The tension mounted as the contest for her hand drew near, as there was another contender for the top spot. The match was intense, with a twist I didn't see coming. I loved how it ended.

Besides the relationship between Jeffrey and Annabelle, there were a couple of secondary romances and some surprise family developments. Annabelle's mother, Lucy, is mourning the loss of her longtime protector and Annabelle's father. Then, a man from her past reappears, showing interest in resuming where he left off many years earlier. I enjoyed watching the development of this later-in-life romance. Lucy also receives a visit from her late protector's legitimate son.

Upon his father's death, Anthony was shocked to learn of his longtime mistress and the existence of a half-sister. I loved his acceptance of Lucy in his father's life and his excitement at discovering he had a sister. Having thought he was now alone in the world, he is thrilled to have a sister and a nephew. I loved the first meeting between Anthony and Annabelle and their immediate ease with each other. Anthony also meets a young woman who knocks him for a loop. I loved Natalie.

I also adored Annabelle's son, Benton. I loved his seriousness as he fulfilled his role as the new viscount, especially when he was introduced to women. His fascination with the toy soldiers was fun, especially when he and Jeffrey got together.

The book finished with an epilogue that took place six years later. I loved catching up with the various characters.

#netgalley… (más)

I am always excited when I get a new book from this author! Her books are always filled with delightfully entertaining, witty, ready-for-romance characters you’ll absolutely wish were in your own life. Then, what could be better than getting two romances for the price of one? Yep, I think all of her books probably have two romances each. If you are tired of prickly, angsty, naval-gazing, will they/won’t they romances, then this is the author for you.

If you’ve read this author’s works, you know her characters are somewhat interconnected. It is similar to what Stephanie Laurens does with the Cynster family, only this author has several characters from different families who relate to or know each other. I like that because when one of those earlier characters pops up, you get to remember how lovely it was to read their book and it is nice to see where their lives have taken them since. However, don't let that concern you because if you haven't read any of those other books, you'll do just fine reading this one.

We met and loved Ertugrul (pronounced Er-too-rule) and David Bennett-Jones, in The Lady of A Sultan, and we now get to see them find their HEAs. Ertugrul is the son and heir of Ziyaeddin, the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire and David is the son and heir of Viscount Bostwick. David has decided to end his Grand Tour and return to England to find a bride. Unbeknownst to David, Ertugrul, who is accompanying him, plans to find an English bride as well. Will it be a long and arduous Season for them? Will the matchmaking mamas drive them crazy? Or, does one of them already know who they want and they just have to make it happen? What about those matchmaking papas – that should make for some interesting situations. Hmmmmmm.

Lady Rose, daughter of the Duke and Duchess of Arily, was a diamond of the first water when she had her come out, but now she is a wallflower. Why? There was a carriage accident that caused a severely broken leg that healed badly. Damaged goods? Even as a duke’s daughter it is hard for a suitor to get past her sometimes need for a cane or a wheeled chair. She’s not content to become a spinster, but she is resigned to that being the likelihood.

Adeline, who is David Bennett-Jones's sister, has also become a wallflower, but that is mostly by her choice. Several of her friends – especially Rose – seem to be relegated to the ranks of wallflowers, so she’ll just join them. She’s not especially looking forward to becoming a spinster, but she has many plans for her future with or without a husband. Among those plans is running her mother’s charities. She works there two or three days a week and loves being able to help others. If someone wants her hand, they’ll have to find her because she isn’t actively looking.

It was lovely to see David, Rose, Ertugrul, and Adeline find their perfect mate and their lovely HEA. The book is excellently written, perfectly paced, and filled with memorable characters and romances that will make your heart sing.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.… (más)

This book was a delightful surprise! While I always enjoy Linda Rae Sande’s books, this one was a departure from her usual locations and circumstances and I thoroughly enjoyed her departure. Heavens – we have honest-to-goodness (or badness) pirates, a Sultan, a Duchess, a rescue (or is it?)! What more could you ask for? A sizzling romance, you say? Well – you definitely get one – and then another for good measure.

Charlotte, Duchess of Chichester, has just completed her year of ‘official’ mourning for her husband and is contemplating her future. She’ll never marry again because she has already loved and now lost the love of her life. Her son is now the new duke and he has a perfectly lovely and capable new duchess, so he doesn’t need her. With the encouragement of several of her friends, she decides to take a couple of years to travel. What a momentous decision that turns out to be!

Do pirates still ply the waters of the Mediterranean? Evidently, they do, because the ship on which Charlotte and her lady’s maid, Parma, are traveling is attacked, boarded, and overtaken by pirates. They are a nasty bunch and take Charlotte and Parma to the Ottoman Empire to sell them into slavery.

Sultan Ziyaeddin is also contemplating his life – past and future. He is still mourning the loss of his one true love even after more than twenty years. Yes, he is a Sultan and has many concubines, but none of those bring him joy. They don’t even slake his lust anymore. Then, there is his empire. He wants to end all the wars, build universities, create a banking system, and generally modernize everything. He's made a start, but how much can he accomplish in his remaining lifetime?

Ziyaeddin is both enraged and enthralled when a pirate offers to sell him a beautiful woman – for his harem or as a slave. He is enraged by the pirate – but captivated by the woman with the snapping eyes. While he would never purchase her, or force her, he would be very happy should she choose to join his household.

Ziyaeddin and Charlotte are both instantly drawn to each other, but their worlds are so far apart. Could they actually forge a loving, lasting relationship? You’ll just have to read the book to see.

We always get two romances in this author’s books and this one is no exception. Ziyaeddin and Charlotte each have a child who finds their match as well. Ah! Love is in the Mediterranean air.

I really do appreciate that this book features two middle-aged people who are both seeking to figure out what to do with the rest of their lives. It does often get tiring reading about very young women finding their HEAs. Those stories are always lively and entertaining, but there is just something sigh-worthy about an older couple finding that the best is not all behind them.

I hope you’ll enjoy this book as much as I did should you choose to read it. Oh – and by the way – if you’d like to read the story of Charlotte’s first romance, it is in The Grace of A Duke from the Daughters of the Aristocracy series.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.… (más)