Eva Devon

I love Eva Devon's passionate and stubborn characters. Throw in a marriage of convenience and there are bound to be some interesting agreements and promises meant to be broken.

Lady Beatrice is a very vocal activist for women's rights in a time when women are treated like property. It's this very reason that she swears never to marry. To get her message across she must find a parliamentarian who will support her cause and, unfortunately, it is her future arrogant and dismissive brother-in-law show more who she seeks out. However, she finds him more amiable to her cause and her person than she once thought.

William Easton, the Duke of Blackheath, is a well-respected orator in parliament and doesn't believe in love until a feisty, outspoken activist catches his attention. She is soon to be his sister-in-law and he feels an obligation to help her in her endeavors, but he has a secret. He has an intense admiration for her, but he would never confess it to anyone. And he never figured he would have to change his single status in order to help her unfortunate demise.

I loved Will and Beatrice's intellectually-stimulating verbal sparring about the issues facing women and the poor in their time. But I adored how they slowly fell for each other with their misgivings about love and marriage. Beatrice is a strong female character who is in tune with what she wants and is not afraid to go against the norm. She's also not afraid to tell Will how she really feels when their life appears to be falling apart. Will is truly a good man and he really listens to Beatrice and respects her. Will's abandonment of his mother is a major milestone in his life which is the motive behind his support of women's rights and also his refusal to let himself love someone. It's lovely to find out how much Will and Beatrice have in common and becoming friends is a natural progression. The boxing lessons are a great addition. But it's when Beatrice's financial woes lead them to a marriage of convenience and new feelings which changes their circumstances and causes havoc in their relationship. Don't worry, there is definitely a happy ever after with a grand gesture to remember.

What I loved most in this book was the band of brothers. Will's brothers Ben and Kit are a splendid support system for both Will and Beatrice. Their relationship with Beatrice is so heartwarming and their devotion to their brother is touching.

I highly recommend this delightful historical romance filled with humor and lovely characters. I hope to read a future book about Will's brother, Ben, who stole the show for me in this book.

Thank you to Ms. Devon for giving me the opportunity to read this book with no expectation of a positive review. show less

We begin with a hand in marriage given away like so many poker chips, and while not the best sounding of foundations, it works for both their purposes. He the notorious rake who wishes to continue his ways while never having an heir. She the woman perfectly content with her own company that desires to dive into the past not herald a new future. He has the well known "beauty" and she the plainness that would not draw unwanted attention, nor even the adoration of her own husband. Ah yes, a show more union that would be for the poets...err, um...okay, well it would secure both the futures they seek and provide companionship in times of need...HOWEVER, ladies and gentlemen, the heart wants what the heart wants, and closeness can open the soul's eyes to things beyond fancy trappings, and decorations. As more often than not proved, once you get to REALLY know a person, their true beauty shines...and these two could potentially be a match made in heaven. If, that is, they can each get out of their own way...

I was whole heartedly glued to the page, and while I guessed where it was going to implode, it did nothing to take away from the moment, nor the steps taken afterward. Dare I say, I was perhaps even more excited to see where things went having pondered the idea for all the preceding pages! It's definitely a story of plans going awry, appearances being deceiving, and the ton's knowledge being guided by idle gossip that they believe to be truths instead of actual fact. Does that work in their favor? Absolutely, until it doesn't anymore because hearts can change, and feelings, or a lack thereof, grow into something even more noteworthy...like the big "L" word.


**ecopy received for review; opinions are my own show less

I was immersed in the world of Regency London, following the intriguing relationship between Rose Digby and Alexander Markby, the sixth Earl of Derby. Rose, a passionate pamphlet writer, is determined to expose the rakish behavior of certain men in society. However, her judgmental, solid attitude towards Alexander, her brother's close friend, initially irked me. Yet, as the story unfolded, I witnessed their unspoken love and the complexities of their emotions. Despite Rose's initial show more resentment, Alexander's genuine efforts to right wrongs and show kindness won me over. The novel's emotional rollercoaster, filled with unexpected twists and moments of redemption, kept me engaged. While the story occasionally felt repetitive, the powerful themes of love, forgiveness, and transformation, coupled with the support of compelling secondary characters, made for a satisfying read. This is a captivating historical romance that delves deep into the human heart, leaving a lasting impression. show less

'The idea of excitement' brought to life!

Nary a story flagged! 5 star holiday season romances with a touch of spice and a dash of cheer that are all excellent inclusions centering around Christmas time in one way or another. From house parties to balls, to situations of intrigue where the stakes are high and the games deadly. Whilst the Eva Devon story did not have as much in common as the others, the central theme continues of female character who is an extraordinary woman looking to take show more unusual steps.

A Rake for Christmas by Eva Devon
Beautifully told story of the meeting of a rake (Anthony Basingstoke) and a wallflower (Lady Evangeline Pennyworth), a rake afraid of love and a wallflower unseen until he 'saw' her. What Evangeline wants is to be desirable, and to Anthony she is just that. But he knows the destruction of love. As a child he experienced the chaotic passion and discord of his parent's marriage and that has colored his perceptions. Love is painful and dangerous.

Up on the Rooftops by Elizabeth Essex
Loved this story! Tobias McTavish, ex jewel thief is targeted. Someone is robbing London's ton of their baubles and jewels exactly in the way the Scottish Wraith used to before being caught. Serving his sentence at His Majesty's Pleasure in the navy had Toby freed and pursuing a gentleman farmer's lot. Now he needs to clear his name. Little does he know that his former Captain's sister, Caledonia Bowmont, has decided he is innocent and she throws herself into helping him. Drat, but she's attracted to Toby! A scintillating, fast moving tale!

The Very Debonair Lady Claire by Heather Snow
Claire Barton is determined to find out who murdered her twin. A code breaker for the very secrative Abchurch section of the War Department, Clarence has used Claire's talents to help determine some of the codes. Now Clarence is dead and Claire assumes his identity to trap the killer. The new spymaster turns out to be an old friend, almost husband, Lord Andrew Sedgewick. He sees her immediately and it takes all of Claire's powers of persuasion to have him support her. For Andrew's part, he's racked with fear and guilt over the woman he loves whom he walked away from six years ago. A grand tale of love, betrayal, intrigue and romance.

A Liar Under the Mistletoe by Celeste Bradley
Amie Jackham takes what her father taught her and uses it for survival. The Liar's club uses those lessons in service to the Crown. Lord Elliot Hughes, a Liar's club spy surprises Amie as she is stealing from the lockbox he has his sights on.
Exciting and at times bewildering, currents of previous stories run deep as thieves vie at Christmas time.
An exciting chase with a young feisty female thief who gives Elliot a run for his money. Amie surprises!

A NetGalley ARC show less