Audiobook Review: The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels

🏴‍☠️ The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels by India Holton

Rating: 🥃🥃🥃🥃

Heat: 🔥🔥

Let me just say, if you're looking for historically accurate regency romance, bless your heart and move along. But if you’ve ever wanted to read a book where lady pirates live in flying mansions and casually lob grenades between tea services, then congratulations, you’re my kind of unhinged—and The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels is your new favorite fever dream.

Our heroine, Cecilia, is all prim manners and deadly precision—like if Mary Poppins joined a fight club. She’s been raised by a league of proper piratical aunties who judge everything from posture to pistol technique. And she is done with everyone’s nonsense, especially when it interferes with her schedule or threatens her reading time.

ARC Review: How to Love a Duke in Ten Days by Kerrigan Byrne

Series:	Devil You Know #1
Pub. Date:	Aug. 27, 2019
Publisher:	St. Martin's Press MacMillan Audio
Narrators:	Derek Perkins
Length:	440 pgs 13 hrs 4 min
Source:	NetGalley / Publisher

How to Love a Duke in Ten Days is the first installment of the brand new Devil You Know series by Kerrigan Byrne. I could not wait to get my grabby hands on this new series, particularly with the teaser that these men are "dark, bold and brave." Kerrigan is exceptional at writing these types of heroes, and I couldn't wait to embark on a new adventure after the Victorian Rebels series.

ARC Review: The Wallflower Wager by Tessa Dare

Series:	Girl Meets Duke #3
Pub. Date:	Aug 13 2019
Publisher:	Avon
Length:	368 pgs
Source:	Edelweiss

I'm a bit behind on my Tessa Dare books, so I haven't read the first installment of Girl Meets Duke. A problem which I intend to rectify as soon as possible. I really liked Chase and Alexandra from The Governess Game, but I think that Ash and Emma are going to have quite interesting stories of their own in The Duchess Deal.

Audiobook Review: Sleepless in Scotland by May McGoldrick

Series:	Pennington Family #3
Pub. Date:	March 19, 2019
Publisher:	Macmillan Audio
Narrator:	Saskia Maarleveld
Length:	7 hrs 51 min
Source:	Publisher

Sleepless in Scotland is the third installment of The Pennington Family series, but my first read from May McGoldrick. If you are just starting out with this author, like me, I felt like the book read fine as a standalone. Though now I do plan to go back and read/listen to the earlier installments, as I enjoyed this one.

ARC Review: Devil's Daughter by Lisa Kleypas

Series:	Ravenels #5
Pub. Date:	Feb 19, 2019
Publisher:	Avon
Length:	384 pgs
Source:	Publisher

Oh man, I think we may be out of Ravenels... or close to anyway. I really love this family. They have all been so interesting and likable... but I have particularly liked the Ravenel men. Reformed rakes, the lot of them. And there is just something appealing about a former bad boy that catches my attention.

ARC Review: The Wrong Highlander by Lynsay Sands

Series:	Highland Brides #7
Pub. Date:	Jan 29, 2019
Publisher:	Avon
Length:	384 pgs
Source:	Publisher

The Highland Brides is one of my favorite historical romance series, and I always get excited when a new one is coming out. The Buchanan brood is so fun and boisterous, with sassy and relatable women that find themselves in dangerous situations more often than not. The Wrong Highlander is no exception, and follows the same light-hearted suspense format of the previous books.

ARC Review: When a Duke Loves a Woman by Lorraine Heath

Series:	Sins for All Seasons #2
Pub. Date:	Aug. 21, 2018
Publisher:	Avon
Length:	400 pgs
Source:	Publisher

When a Duke Loves a Woman is the second installment of the Sins for All Seasons series, which focuses on a band of bastard offspring who were left on the doorstep of Ettie Trewlove in the slums of Whitechapel. These members of the commoner class are being paired off one-by-one with a member of the nobility as we navigate the social issues between the class separation.

Audiobook Review: Borne to be Wilde by Eloisa James

Series:	Wildes of Lindow Castle #3
Pub. Date:	July 31, 2018
Publisher:	HarperAudio
Narrator:	Susan Duerden
Length:	9 hrs 53 min
Source:	Library

I have been enjoying the Wildes of Lindlow Castle, so I'm a bit surprised that this release slipped past my notice. Luckily, I snagged an audio copy from the library so I could squeeze it in because I was absolutely salivating over that cover!

ARC Review: The Governess Game by Tessa Dare

Series:	Girl Meets Duke #2
Pub. Date:	Aug. 28, 2018
Publisher:	Avon
Length:	373 pgs
Source:	Publisher

The Governess Game is the second book in the Girl Meets Duke series by Tessa Dare. While it's the second in the series, I think it worked fine as a standalone, as I haven't yet read the first book. I think there is a little character crossover, and the characters are quite intriguing, so I will definitely be going back to read the first book, perhaps in audio.

ARC Review: To Love a Duchess by Karen Ranney

Series:	All for Love #1
Pub. Date:	July 31, 2018
Publisher:	Avon
Length:	384 pgs
Source:	Publisher

To Love a Duchess is the first book in Karen Ranney's new series, All for Love. This first book is a flipped power dynamic, where our hero is a member of the commoner class, and our heroine is a grieving duchess. The story took a bit to draw me in, but I ended up liking it quite a bit by the end.

Audiobook Review: The Devil of Dunakin Castle by Heather McCollum

Series:	Highland Isles #4
Pub. Date:	May 8, 2018
Publisher:	Entangled Tantor Audio
Narrators:	Tim Campbell
Length:	6 hrs 49 min
Source:	Publisher

This is my first read by Heather McCollum, and I'm sorry that I haven't already read the rest of the Highland Isles series. I quite liked this one! If you are just discovering this author like me, I don't think its absolutely necessary for you to read the earlier books. There are some references to events in earlier books, and maybe a slight spoiler, but nothing major. 

Our heroine is an English lass, Grace Ellington, who has been living on the Isle of Mull with her sister (heroine of a previous book). The only thing I missed by not reading the earlier books was Grace's backstory. I wanted to know how she got to Mull, what happened in her past (it was referenced a few times but not explained), and how she became a healer. While Grace had a couple of reluctant moments early on, she didn't grind on my "reluctant heroine" nerve, and I liked her quite a bit. She was assertive and not afraid to speak her mind, particularly when it came to our hero. She was intelligent and kind and brave. All great qualities.

Audiobook Review: Forbidden by Beverly Jenkins

Series:	Old West #1
Pub. Date:	January 26, 2016
Publisher:	HarperAudio
Narrator:	Kim Staunton
Length:	9 hrs 27 min
Source:	Hoopla

Forbidden is my first read from the highly-acclaimed Beverly Jenkins, and it certainly will not be my last. I am not typically a fan of western romances, but I was drawn into this story and found myself enjoying it quite a bit. Jenkins certainly has a lovely writing style, which was complemented by this narrator, Kim Staunton, who had a very soothing voice. The cadence and pacing Staunton employed was perfect for the old west feel of this story.

ARC Review: The Risk of Rogues by Sabrina Jeffries

Series:	Sinful Suitors #5.5
Pub. Date:	July 2, 2018
Publisher:	Pocket Star
Length:	95 pgs
Source:	NetGalley

Drat, I realized as I went to start this book that I have missed the last couple of releases in the Sinful Suitors series! I don't know how that happened! So now I have some catching up to do, because I have enjoyed the installments that I have read thus far.

The Risk of Rogues is a short story novella, which was a nice diversion and easy to get through as I have been recovering from surgery this week. I think it can be read fine as a standalone, though I do believe there was some character crossover from the past couple of books.

ARC Review: The Highlander's Promise by Lynsay Sands

Series:	Highlanders #6
Pub. Date:	June 26, 2018
Publisher:	Avon
Length:	384 pgs
Source:	Edelweiss

Lynsay Sands' Highlanders series has been one of my favorites over the last year or so. I love the big rambunctious and loyal Buchanan family, and have enjoyed seeing each brother (and sister) meet their matrimonial end so to speak. But when I saw the blurb for this book and realized it was about Aulay, I got grabby hands. I feel like this may have been my most anticipated installment of the series.

ARC Review: Too Wilde to Wed by Eloisa James

Series:	Wildes of Lindow Castle #2
Pub. Date:	May 29, 2018
Publisher:	Avon
Length:	384 pages
Source:	Edelweiss

Too Wilde to Wed is the second installment of Eloisa James' Wildes of Lindow Castle series, featuring the very large and entertaining Wilde family. I have read the earlier book, Wilde in Love, but I think you can get by reading this one as a standalone if absolutely necessary (though you will miss some of the backstory). 

Our hero in this story is Lord Roland Northbridge Wilde (a/k/a North), heir to the dukedom. After being jilted by his fiance and coming to an incorrect assumption, North enlisted in the royal army and went off to fight the Revolutionary War in the Colonies. In the first book, North had turned himself into a ridiculous dandy wearing saffron pantaloons and coats embroidered with cherries, all to gain the attention of a woman. But North has returned from the war and different, and less pretentious man. I really liked him as a hero. He was patient and understanding, and had a touch of vulnerability in dealing with his time in the war. He treated our heroine exceedingly well, but he wasn't the "nice guy that finishes last." North could steam up the sheets and steamroll his way when the situation really warranted it.

ARC Review: How to Forget a Duke by Vivienne Lorret

Series:	Misadventures in Matchmaking #1
Pub. Date:	May 29, 2018
Publisher:	Avon
Length:	384 pages
Source:	Publisher

How to Forget a Duke is the first installment of Vivienne Lorret's new series, Misadventure in Matchmaking. The series focuses around three sisters and their indulgent uncle, who allows the girls to run the Bourne Matrimonial Agency. Just take a gander at that beautiful cover - it totally sucked me right in and had me wanting to read this story.

Our hero of this first installment is Crispin Montague, fifth Duke of Rydstrom. First of all - that is a GREAT name. I just loved it. Unfortunately, Crispin is broke and in need of an heiress whose funds he may use to repair the ducal estate, Whitcrest. Though he is not interested in a love match - he needs an uninterested wife who will not want to live with him at Whitcrest and discover his secrets. I liked Crispin. He was no-nonsense, responsible, and honorable. He was also engaging in some self-condemnation for his guilt over his parent's death and his sisters future prospects. I would have liked to know more about him, though most of the story was focused on the heroine.

ARC Review: You Never Forget Your First Earl by Ella Quinn

Series:	Worthingtons #5
Pub. Date:	May 29, 2018
Publisher:	Kensington
Length:	304 pgs
Source:	NetGalley

I have been enjoying the tight-knit family in the Worthingtons series, even though it seems I have missed a book along the way. It's not necessary to read these in order, particularly if you are starting with You Never Forget Your First Earl. In this book, we have exhausted our Worthingtons, and it seems and we are going with a friend of the family instead of one of the Worthington brood.

ARC Review: The Prince by Katharine Ashe

Series:	Devil's Dukes #4
Pub. Date:	May 29, 2018
Publisher:	Avon
Length:	384 pages
Source:	Edelweiss

The Prince is the fourth installment of the Devil's Dukes series, and one that I was anticipating after meeting our hero, Ziyaeddin, in The Duke. The Devil's Dukes are a spinoff of Ashe's Falcon Club series, which I have not read. I don't feel like you need to read the earlier books before embarking with The Prince, but if you want to read his introductory book, check out The Duke.

Review: The Duke by Katharine Ashe

Series:	Devil's Dukes #3
Pub. Date:	Sept. 26, 2017
Publisher:	Avon
Length:	395 pgs

The Devil's Dukes series is a spinoff of Katharine Ashe's Falcon Club series. I have not read the Falcon Club series yet, and I tried to start the Devil's Dukes last year with The Rogue, and I felt too lost to finish the book. When Avon sent along the fourth book in the series, The Prince, I decided to give this one another shot. I wanted to try The Duke, because I am a sucker for a broody dark duke, particularly a Scot.

ARC Review: The Bride Takes a Groom by Lisa Berne

Series:	Penhallow Dynasty #3
Pub. Date:	April 24, 2018
Publisher:	Avon
Length:	384 pgs
Source:	Edelweiss

The Bride Takes a Groom is the third book in the Penhallow Dynasty series, and my first read by this author. Penhallow is an esteemed and revered name in London society, and the family bucks tradition by marrying for love and maintaining close relationships throughout the family lines. I really liked everyone in the family, even Aunt Henrietta, who is a reformed stuffy matron sort.

Captain Hugo Penhallow has been in America fighting a war for the past 10 years or so, and has returned home after being shot and breaking his leg. He rushes back home to see his mother and siblings, and finds all the love he missed while he was away. Unfortunately he also quickly realizes their dire financial situation, and he sets out to remedy their lack of resources right away. I liked that Hugo was an amiable and easy-going fellow - nothing ever seemed to ruffle his feathers. His dedication to his family and even his bratty bride was admirable. I would have liked to spend more time in Hugo's head, and wished that his character had been developed more once the story was established.