Category: Romance

Title: How to Survive a Scandal (Rebels with a Cause #1)
Author: Samara Parish
Genre: Historical Fiction, Romance
Publisher: Forever
Source: Publisher
Format: Paperback
Release Date: May 25, 2021
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

In this whirlwind Regency romance, a near-death experience leads to a marriage of convenience for two unsuspecting strangers, but will their unusual meeting lead them to true love?

Lady Amelia was raised to be the perfect duchess, accomplished in embroidery, floral arrangement, and managing a massive household. But when an innocent mistake forces her and the uncouth, untitled Benedict Asterly into a marriage of convenience, all her training appears to be for naught. Even worse, she finds herself inexplicably drawn to this man no finishing school could have prepared her for.

Benedict Asterly never dreamed saving Amelia’s life would lead to him being shackled to the hoity Society miss. Benedict was taught to distrust the aristocracy at a young age, so when news of his marriage endangers a business deal, Benedict is wary of Amelia’s offer to help. But his quick-witted, elegant bride defies all his expectations… and if he’s not careful, she’ll break down the walls around his guarded heart.

Review:

Lady Amelia has been preparing to marry a Duke her entire life. However, her plans are derailed when she’s found in a compromising position with the untitled Benedict Asterly. She must marry Benedict and move away from the ton in London. Benedict’s work building trains is threatened when he’s associated with Amelia from the upper class. Then he gets some news that changes his station in life. Though Amelia and Benedict don’t seem to have anything in common, they begin to fall for each other, but they have to stand up to the gossip.

I loved the fast pace of this story. The action began right on the first page, with Benedict finding Amelia in a crashed carriage and having to take her somewhere to warm her up. Then they were caught together in a room alone and partly undressed, so the gossip began then too.

Gossip was a huge part of this story. All of the problems in this story were caused by gossip. People in both the upper and lower classes wanted to tear each other down, just for the power of knowing something about someone else. It was amazing to see how destructive gossip was in this story.

How to Survive a Scandal is a great historical fiction romance!

Thank you Forever for providing a copy of this book.

What to read next:

How to Deceive a Duke by Samara Parish

Not the Kind of Earl You Marry by Kate Pembrooke

Other books in the series:

• How to Deceive a Duke

Have you read How to Survive a Scandal? What did you think of it?

Title: The Siren of Sussex
Author: Mimi Matthews
Genre: Historical Fiction, Romance
Publisher: Berkley
Source: Publisher via NetGalley
Format: Ebook
Release Date: January 11, 2022
Rating: ★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

Victorian high society’s most daring equestrienne finds love and an unexpected ally in her fight for independence in the strong arms of London’s most sought after and devastatingly handsome half-Indian tailor.

Evelyn Maltravers understands exactly how little she’s worth on the marriage mart. As an incurable bluestocking from a family tumbling swiftly toward ruin, she knows she’ll never make a match in a ballroom. Her only hope is to distinguish herself by making the biggest splash in the one sphere she excels: on horseback. In haute couture. But to truly capture London’s attention she’ll need a habit-maker who’s not afraid to take risks with his designs—and with his heart.

Half-Indian tailor Ahmad Malik has always had a talent for making women beautiful, inching his way toward recognition by designing riding habits for Rotten Row’s infamous Pretty Horsebreakers—but no one compares to Evelyn. Her unbridled spirit enchants him, awakening a depth of feeling he never thought possible.

But pushing boundaries comes at a cost and not everyone is pleased to welcome Evelyn and Ahmad into fashionable society. With obstacles spanning between them, the indomitable pair must decide which hurdles they can jump and what matters most: making their mark or following their hearts?

Review:

Evelyn Maltravers goes to London to stay with her uncle for her first season, but she doesn’t have high expectations for marriage after her sister’s scandal. Her goal is to make a name for herself as a horseback rider. She goes to the half-Indian tailor Ahmad Malik, who is known for designing the riding habits for the Pretty Horsebreakers of Rotten Row, to make her habit. Ahmad is an up-and-coming tailor, but he isn’t willing to cross boundaries with his wealthy clients to get ahead. However, when he meets Evelyn everything changes. There are many societal expectations that stand in their way, but Evelyn and Ahmad need to find a way to be together.

This story wasn’t a typical Victorian romance. I haven’t seen many Victorian romances that address racism the way this one did. Ahmad was half-Indian and working class. Many people made racist comments to him, and expected different things from him due to his race. Even Evelyn made inappropriate comments to him, though she didn’t realize it at the time. Though Ahmad had to deal with all of this racism, he had more opportunities than most people in his situation would have had in reality.

This was a slow romance, but I enjoyed it. There were some entertaining subplots, such as Ahmad’s business and Evelyn’s uncle’s fascination with spiritualism. These subplots added to the story and set up some possible themes for future books in the series.

The Siren of Sussex is a great Victorian romance!

Thank you Berkley for providing a copy of this book.

What to read next:

Bringing Down the Duke by Evie Dunmore

The Lady and the Highwayman by Sarah M. Eden

About the author:

USA Today bestselling author Mimi Matthews writes both historical nonfiction and award-winning proper Victorian romances. Her novels have received starred reviews in Library Journal, Publishers Weekly, Booklist, and Kirkus, and her articles have been featured on theVictorian Web, the Journal of Victorian Culture, and in syndication at BUST Magazine. In her other life, Mimi is an attorney. She resides in California with her family, which includes a retired Andalusian dressage horse, and two Siamese cats. Learn more online atmimimatthews.com.

Have you read The Siren of Sussex? What did you think of it?

Title: An Offer From a Gentleman (Bridgerton #3)
Author: Julia Quinn
Genre: Historical Fiction, Romance
Publisher: Avon
Source: Purchased
Format: Paperback
Release Date: July 1, 2001
Rating: ★★★★★

Goodreads Synopsis:

Sophie Beckett never dreamed she’d be able to sneak into Lady Bridgerton’s famed masquerade ball—or that “Prince Charming” would be waiting there for her! Though the daughter of an earl, Sophie has been relegated to the role of servant by her disdainful stepmother. But now, spinning in the strong arms of the debonair and devastatingly handsome Benedict Bridgerton, she feels like royalty. Alas, she knows all enchantments must end when the clock strikes midnight.

Who was that extraordinary woman? Ever since that magical night, a radiant vision in silver has blinded Benedict to the attractions of any other—except, perhaps, this alluring and oddly familiar beauty dressed in housemaid’s garb whom he feels compelled to rescue from a most disagreeable situation. He has sworn to find and wed his mystery miss, but this breathtaking maid makes him weak with wanting her. Yet, if he offers her his heart, will Benedict sacrifice his only chance for a fairy tale love?

Review:

Sophie is the illegitimate daughter of an Earl, who is left in the care of her stepmother when he dies suddenly. She disguises herself and goes to a masquerade ball at the Bridgerton home, where she meets Benedict Bridgerton, the second son. When Benedict sees the mysterious girl at the ball, he instantly falls in love with her. However, she leaves before he can find out who she is. Now, two years later, Sophie is working as a maid. She and Benedict meet again when he saves her from being attacked by a group of men. Benedict insists on helping Sophie find another job, though he doesn’t know that she’s the woman he fell for years ago. He needs to marry soon, and he likes Sophie, but his heart still belongs to the mysterious woman from the ball and Sophie is a much lower social status. They have to figure out if their love is strong enough to get past these differences.

This Bridgerton novel didn’t disappoint! The first couple of chapters were a Cinderella story. Sophie was left with her stepmother and stepsisters after her biological father died, though he never claimed her as his own so she didn’t benefit from being his daughter. She had the chance meeting with her Prince Charming at a masquerade ball, but then she had to flee before her stepmother returned home. I love it when fairytales are part of a story. This fairy tale part was only in the first couple of chapters but it was an entertaining entrance to the story.

The only thing I didn’t find believable was how much Benedict and Sophie loved each other at first sight. They didn’t know anything about each other and they couldn’t even see what they really looked like since they were wearing masks. This felt like a forced relationship at the beginning because they were head over heels in love without actually knowing the other person. By the end, I was rooting for them, but their love felt forced in the beginning.

An Offer From a Gentleman is a great Bridgerton romance!

What to read next:

Romancing Mister Bridgerton by Julia Quinn

To Have and to Hoax by Martha Waters

Other books in the series:

• The Duke and I
• The Viscount Who Loved Me
• Romancing Mister Bridgerton
• To Sir Philip, With Love
• When He Was Wicked
• It’s in His Kiss
• On the Way to the Wedding

Have you read An Offer From a Gentleman? What did you think of it?