Jillian EatonRessenyes

Enough is enough!

Have you heard the news?
The clients of a dress shop in London quieten, waiting.
“The Duchess of Southwick is coming to London . . . and she plans to take a lover.”
Oh my! Scandal and gossip! Gasps of titillation all round!

What to do when a neglected wife decides to take matters into her own hands?
Lady Marabelle Anne Buxton is puzzled as to why her husband Ambrose, Duke of Southwick, married her. They’d spent admittedly a rather incongruous wedding night together and then Ambrose packed her off to Southwick Castle where she’s remained for thirteen years. Ambrose has come to the castle a mere handful of times. Never to have marital affairs. Just to check the estate.
Mara has decided to go to London and intends to take a lover. (Not that she quite understands what that entails. When her sister mentions nakedness Mara definitely quails.)

Well that rumor puts an end to Ambrose’s plans.
No! This will not be allowed to happen. Ambrose whips off to Southwick as fast as his best carriage horses can take him! Thirteen years too late it would seem!
A second chance romance, mostly probable. I liked parts of the story but other entanglements were entirely too predictable.

A Dragonblade ARC via NetGalley.
Many thanks to the author and publisher.

cute book. American comes to England to get her mother's ring back, little knowing that she's an illegitimate daughter of a duke

American Evie is determined to hook an Earl on her visit to England - not as easy as she supposes

cute book. Brynne ran away and married Lachlan, a Scottish laird. But then his ex-mistress stages a bedroom scene and she runs back home for 18 months. He's returned to England to claim her again.

cute book about a wallflower being wooed by a drunken despairing duke, until she is kidnapped and clears his name.

I liked the banter between Harper and Doyle but it was a pretty weak story. Weak plot, weak characters. There just wasn't enough depth to satisfy me. 2 stars.

I haven’t read the first one, but that didn’t detract from this story (from the blurb, it seems the heroine chases the hero in the first book, which is not my thing at all). I really only read HR that caters to my favorite tropes, and this one didn’t, really. Not sure “wallflower” is the right term for describing the trio, but they are sweet and protective friends. The story has rather modern sensibilities, reading a bit chick-lit-y, but is squeaky clean. I enjoyed it well enough, and will probably read the next when it comes out since I love traumatized heroines, but the story was too short to really do the angst any justice; everything gets sewn up too quickly and neatly for my taste. Entertaining, quick read, but ultimately, not my cup of tea. (2.5 stars)

I wanted to like this more, but the heroine is confident that the hero is falling in love with her and spends the book chasing him, which is the opposite of what I personally like in my stories. Probably not fair to give it a low rating, but when I came across this like I just knew this was not the book for me:

Her marriage to Wycliffe may have saved her family from financial ruin and her father from debtor’s prison, but at what cost to herself? Was she destined to be forever trapped in a loveless union? One made all the worse because she feared she was falling in love with her husband…and, even though he would never admit it, he was falling in love with her as well. He hadn’t said the words – hadn’t even come close – but she knew, she knew that he couldn’t kiss her such wicked abandon if he didn’t care deeply for her.

Add to that the fact that the heroine is beautiful and it’s never explained why she is a spinster, and I am doomed to disappointment. I liked the premise and the writing and even the characters, it’s just that the story is the antithesis to my favored tropes. (2.5 stars)

I’m not really keen on the spinster-by-choice trope, but I did enjoy the drama! Not terribly impressed with the hero, though. I liked that he pursued her but he didn’t really do anything to make up for abandoning her, which he did because... reasons? He was already the duke, his father having died when he was a child, and he was 22. There is just no excuse there for jilting the heroine, if you ask me. Not to mention, a man jilting a woman turned her into a social outcast back then, but, whatever. And his dismissive attitudes towards his daughters, and that he expected her to be a virgin after 30 years?? WTF?! And while I liked Abigail, and enjoyed her leading him on a merry chase, it just wasn’t enough to carry it off. Maybe if the book had been longer and had convinced me that they had Special Snowflake Love as teenagers that somehow survived 30 years at full force, I might have dug it more. Though I did appreciate a truly spinsterish heroine! 47 years old is much more relatable to me than the usual 22-year-olds that dominate the spinster trope. (2.5 stars)

was liking this but it lost my interest when I could see they were going to break up.

This was a quick light little read. The story was short so we didn’t have much of a chance to get to know the characters in depth. I enjoyed the hero especially at the end when he was trying to tell the heroine of his feelings. I got the impression that she was going to lead him around by the nose in the future but that he was not going to mind a bit.

Because the story was short the fact that the hero and the heroine fell in love in 3 days was acceptable. The writing style had a slightly modern feel but for a quick read was not too bothersome.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

This book was just okay. The marriage of convenience theme is a favorite of mine. But it took too long for the marriage to happen. Also the fact that it took quite a while after the marriage for them to get together is not a favorite element of mine. I never understand why authors write a MOC as if they hero and heroine are not going to have an intimate relationship. That is so overdone and predictable. How about a MOC where the fact that they do is part of the conflict from the beginning? I have a hard time believing that the hero was so okay with the idea of her having affairs and that he fought her so hard about sleeping together. The characters were a little stiff and some of their motivations were not very believable. Some of the scenes were just too long and there were some awkward expository bits. The ending was very quick also. Ultimately and okay read.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

This book was just okay. The marriage of convenience theme is a favorite of mine. But it took too long for the marriage to happen. Also the fact that it took quite a while after the marriage for them to get together is not a favorite element of mine. I never understand why authors write a MOC as if they hero and heroine are not going to have an intimate relationship. That is so overdone and predictable. How about a MOC where the fact that they do is part of the conflict from the beginning? I have a hard time believing that the hero was so okay with the idea of her having affairs and that he fought her so hard about sleeping together. The characters were a little stiff and some of their motivations were not very believable. Some of the scenes were just too long and there were some awkward expository bits. The ending was very quick also. Ultimately and okay read.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

When Lady Scarlett Sherwood's husband is found dead, Captain of the Bow Street Runners Owen Steel believes she is the guilty party. But they have shared a past that blinds him.
It was an enjoyable enough story but would have preferred much more mystery and less of the romance.
Several things did distract from the story for me, as far as accuracy is concerned, which is why I didn't give it 3 stars - in this time period divorces were expensive and a long protracted process, not started and finished within a couple of months. I can't imagine there is any place in Surrey which was a four day carriage ride from London. Hampshire is not to the east of Surrey, and in England there is a ground floor beneath the first floor.

I expected more but this wasn't a bad book. Just some things...Spoilers ahead. This is a family that is too poor to buy butter but they can afford passage for 2 to England and living expenses while there? It just didn't make much sense to me. There were lots of things like that throughout the book. The brother has the ring stolen, can afford to pay jewelers for the ring on the off chance the girls decide to sell it but he doesn't just attempt to find his sister and buy it back? So many things made so little sense.

I didn't like the ending, she should have made him grovel a bit more not just give in, after all she'd been through.

The Disappearance of Lady Edith (The Undaunted Debutantes, #1) by Christina McKnight

One tragic night has lead three women on a journey of danger, courage and love. Christina McKnight, begins her Undaunted Debutantes series with a bang. The Disappearance of Lady Edith is a story of betrayals, danger and the quest for justice. The death of a close friend has pushed Lady Edith to the edge. She wants someone to pay and she needs answers. Her determination catches the eye of a possible suitor, but also puts her in more danger than she could ever have imagined. The lure of the chase is hard to ignore. (4 stars)



The Rakehell's Seduction (The Seduction Series) by Lauren Smith

It was so easy to dislike Ambrose, except when it wasn't. Contradicting statement? Yes, but that is the way that I felt. He hid his heart well, but when it came out to play, it set the whole novel on fire. Arrogant, decadent, seductive and brooding this man thrived on being a walking contradiction. When a secret bet puts Alexandra in his sights, his heavily guarded heart may not survive the blow. Alexandra at first glance seems naive in her views, but underneath all of the surface optimism lies a woman with an inner strength and hidden fire just waiting to find it's target. Ms. Smith loves to dole out surprises and with The Rakehell's Seduction she not only gave an enchanting story, she delivered characters that were as mesmerizing and complicated as the writer herself. Well done. (5 stars)

Enjoyable but very short and not much of a plot. Marriage of convenience where Carolyn falls in love and Eric takes longer

THE RUNAWAY DUCHESS by Jillian Eaton is an exciting Regency Historical Romance set in 1815 London. Fast paced and filled with passion. Join Gavin Graystone,a wealthy commoner and Lady Charlotte Vanderley,affianced to someone she doesn't want to marry,but is being forced to by her dear mother. Beside the Duke of Tarrow being three times Charlotte's age,he is a lecherous old man who has buried two or was it three wives through superstitious circumstances. Who wouldn't want to runaway? When Charlotte, learns what her mother has done she is furious,and determined to find a way to not marry the Duke... Enter, the delectable Gavin,not only does he not have a title, but he is wealthy,handsome,and did I mention rich? Charlotte, does the only thing she can and this is where the story begins... Together, Gavin and Charlotte embark on a journey of passion,danger,learning to know each other, trust, social class differences,and finding true love. For you see they do the unthinkable....I don't want to spoil your fun, so I will leave it at that. Well written with vivid descriptions and charming characters, who will steal your heart, or some of them anyway. The storyline is engaging, interesting,as well as a bit dangerous. Take a romp through Regency England with Gavin and Charlotte. You will not sorry you did. A must read for any historical romance readers who love a good romp through England. Received for an honest review from the author.

RATING: 4

HEAT RATING: MILD

REVIEWED BY: AprilR, Review courtesy of My Book Addiction and More

Author: Jillian Eaton
Published by: Jillian Eaton
Recommend: Adult
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Raven Rating: 5
Blog Review For: GMTA

Review:

"A Ravishing Redhead" by Jillian Eaton was a short wonderful and sweet historical romance novel. I really like the way this storyline flowed and it was definitely one enjoyable reads that you will not be able to put down until you are finished.

The author did a wonderful job at keeping the reader interested in what would happen next...and the characters were simply good.... and yes .....full of hot sex. The heroine Margaret was very entertaining and her husband the hero ... who had married her for her dowry...well this is the time I say pick up "A Ravishing Redhead" and get the whole story. You will not be disappointed.

I would recommend "A Ravishing Redhead" to all who wants a short historical romance novel and the question will be asked and answered...Will they lived happily ever after?

In this Regency romance, Marcus and Catherine, darlings of the ton, enjoy a few months of wedded bliss before Marcus leaves on business. His young wife, missing her beloved, runs to London and proceeds to flirt with other men, hoping her husband will rush back home to be by her side. Instead, gossip spreads like wildfire, and Marcus returns to hear that his wife has bestowed her favors on several other men. Enraged, he forces a separation. They're married, but they live separate lives. Here's the catch: they're both still in love with each other, even though he believes she's been unfaithful and Catherine hears that Marcus has taken a mistress.

This story begins 3 years later, with Catherine begging him for a divorce and Marcus refusing. She can no longer stand to be married to someone she loves while they're torturing each other. Finally, Marcus offers a compromise. He will grant the divorce if she'll bear him a child. She gives him two months to impregnate her, but they only last one night together before they're hurting each other again, and she's running away. At the end, they both suddenly come to their senses and realize something miraculous has happened to bring them back together.

The problem with this story line is that we are expected to believe that a young couple, so completely in love, would allow rumors to break them apart without ever communicating to each other. Catherine allows Marcus to be tormented, thinking she has been unfaithful, simply because he did not come out and plainly ask her if it was true. Marcus is no hero, either. He's crude and hateful, enjoying tormenting her while he thinks he loves her. I can't imagine a more masochistic pair! I realize the misunderstanding is a common element in many romances, but in this case it's ridiculous. For Marcus and Catherine to love from a distance and never confront the issue is hardly believable. What we're left with is a story of two people who have wounded each other so thoroughly that a happy ending is highly unlikely. Badly, badly done.

Author: Jillian Eaton
Published By: J. A. E.
Age Recommend: Adult
Reviewed By: Arlena Dean
Raven Rating: 4
Blog Review For: Great Minds Think Aloud
Review:

"A Brooding Beauty" by Jillian was a good short romance novel. The
author really worked her magic with this story and it really turn out to be a cute story dealing with Catherine and Marcus (Duke of Kensington).

The story was of two people that had misunderstood each other in more ways than one. Marcus leaves to work in America and upon his return hears that his wife has been cheating on him. (Rumors) Instead of this couple talking about this situation both of them are now distant and very short with each other. Next .... Catherine is wanting a divorce even though she still loves Marcus.....even through she believed he had a mistress. (Rumors) Naturally Marcus says NO to the divorce.
How the author is able to bring this couple back together is a work of art. Will Catherine and Marcus finally be able to talk and work out their problems?... Had their been any affairs? You must read this novel to find out.

"A Brooding Beauty" had a blend of sexual heat and love. For this was
truly a romance novel and wow what an ending. I really liked it! If you are in for a quick sweet romance then this novel, "A Brooding Beauty" is for you.