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The Rakes of St. James #2
To the Duke, with Love
There may be times when a gentleman is desperate to gain a lady’s attention, but a gentleman would never resort to desperate measures to obtain it.
―A Proper Gentleman’s Guide to Wooing the Perfect Lady
Sloane Knox, the Duke of Hawksthorn is guardian for his sweet, younger sister. Due to his misguided past as one of the infamous Rakes of St James, Hawk is hoping to avoid the Season by securing a match for her before it begins. He has the perfect gentleman in mind, but for one infuriating―and unexpectedly intoxicating―obstacle: the intended groom’s own sister, Miss Loretta Quick.
Having narrowly avoided her own arranged marriage to an unacceptable nobleman, Loretta is determined that her dear brother―a gentle, good-natured soul―should marry for love. Matching wits with Hawk may be her greatest challenge yet. . .until she realizes it may also be her greatest pleasure. For the young duke’s irresistible charm has not only begun to crumble her stubborn resolve, it has claimed her heart in true love as well. . .
―A Proper Gentleman’s Guide to Wooing the Perfect Lady
Sloane Knox, the Duke of Hawksthorn is guardian for his sweet, younger sister. Due to his misguided past as one of the infamous Rakes of St James, Hawk is hoping to avoid the Season by securing a match for her before it begins. He has the perfect gentleman in mind, but for one infuriating―and unexpectedly intoxicating―obstacle: the intended groom’s own sister, Miss Loretta Quick.
Having narrowly avoided her own arranged marriage to an unacceptable nobleman, Loretta is determined that her dear brother―a gentle, good-natured soul―should marry for love. Matching wits with Hawk may be her greatest challenge yet. . .until she realizes it may also be her greatest pleasure. For the young duke’s irresistible charm has not only begun to crumble her stubborn resolve, it has claimed her heart in true love as well. . .
346 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published December 5, 2017
88 people are currently reading
968 people want to read
About the author
Amelia Grey
35 books856 followersAmelia Grey (aka Gloria Dale Skinner) grew up in a small town in the Florida Panhandle. She has been happily married to her high school sweetheart for over twenty-five years. She has lived in Alabama, Connecticut, New Hampshire and now lives in Florida.
Amelia has won the coveted Romantic Times award for Love and Laughter, the prestigious Maggie award for best historical and Affaire de Coeur's best American historical award. She has been a finalist for the Golden Heart and the Holt Medallion awards which are given by Romance Writers of America and numerous other awards. Her books have been sold to many countries in Europe, Russia and China.
Amelia likes flowers, candlelight, sweet smiles, gentle laughter and sunshine.
Amelia has won the coveted Romantic Times award for Love and Laughter, the prestigious Maggie award for best historical and Affaire de Coeur's best American historical award. She has been a finalist for the Golden Heart and the Holt Medallion awards which are given by Romance Writers of America and numerous other awards. Her books have been sold to many countries in Europe, Russia and China.
Amelia likes flowers, candlelight, sweet smiles, gentle laughter and sunshine.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 201 reviews
March 2, 2018
To the Duke, With Love is the second book in Amelia Grey’s
Rakes of St. James
series and is both my first – and probably last – book by this author. This is wallpaper historical romance by numbers, and I suppose the alarm bells should really have started ringing when I realised that the hero – who is an English duke – is named Sloane. Which is such a common name for an English gentleman of the nineteenth century. (Not.)
So, here’s what we’ve got. Sloane Knox, the Duke of Hawksthorn, wants to arrange a suitable match for his younger sister Adele before she makes her début, because a decade ago, he and two of his friends played a prank on that year’s crop of debutantes and now he fears someone will use Adele in order to exact retribution. Hawk believes he has found the perfect mate for Adele in one Mr. Paxton Quick, a young, handsome and good-natured gentleman who lives … somewhere unspecified but far from London with his older sister, Loretta. Hawk has reached this conclusion because he has never seen Quick:
“… too deep in his cups, and he never gambles more than a handful of DOLLARS at the table.”
Well, I’m not surprised at that last bit, because how could he? Last time I checked, in England we use ENGLISH currency, strange as that may seem.
Hawk travels to Mammoth House in… some remote location, in order to discuss the match with Quick, only to discover that he is from home, and finds himself confronting the rather scrumptious, somewhat challenging Miss Quick instead. And so begins the mental lusting. At the ONE PERCENT mark on my Kindle:
She looked pure, sweet, and completely untouched by masculine hands. A sudden, deep rush of desire flamed through him, and the rhythm of his heartbeat changed.
By the end of the first chapter Hawk:
… wanted her with an intensity that he hadn’t felt in a very long time.
And in the next, we’re told our heroine is all a quiver because she:
… still wasn’t sure what to make of the new, startling, and unexplained feelings that had swept over her at the sight of him. She wasn’t out of breath, yet she was breathless. She wasn’t dizzy, yet she felt light-headed. She wasn’t hungry, yet looking at him caused a ravenous appetite to rise up within her.”
For god’s sake, someone get the woman a sandwich!
In a nutshell, the plot revolves around the fact that Loretta doesn’t want her brother to be forced or coerced into a marriage against his will, as almost happened to her when their uncle and guardian arranged for her to marry someone she didn’t love. Said uncle, the Earl of Switchingham, was – not surprisingly – somewhat miffed when Loretta didn’t turn up at the wedding, and banished her to the somewhat ramshackle Mammoth House in the back of beyond – but not before he’d forced her to make a holy vow – in church – never to marry. The banishment wasn’t extended to her brother, although he loyally opted to make his home with Loretta, but Quick travels to London frequently – which is how Hawk knows him – and Loretta lives quietly, accepting her exclusion from society even as she regrets missing out on the sort of life she could – and should – have had.
That is basically it. Hawk and Loretta butt heads (and other body parts, eventually) in a lot of exchanges that are lacking in either humour or wit, and there is hardly any chemistry between them whatsoever. She’s beautiful and stands up to him, he’s handsome and likes that she challenges him and they each fancy what they see, but there’s nothing beyond the insta-lust, and I couldn’t understand what either of them saw in the other beyond outward appearances. And then there’s the dialogue in the love scenes, which made me cringe:
On sweeping Loretta into his arms (in chapter four, no less) Hawk asks her of her former suitor:
“Did he hold you possessively like this and make you feel as if you were someone too precious to let go?”
…
“Did his lips hover longingly just above yours as mine are now, just waiting for you to invite him to take a taste of you?”
Did I just laugh my head off at such terrible pick-up lines?
The author attempts to inject some drama into the story by means of a sub-plot featuring a boy from the streets named Farley, whom we first meet when he knocks at the door of Loretta’s house begging for scraps – but quite honestly, I’m not sure what the point of it was, unless it was to show that lepoards rarely change their spots. And I almost hurt my head with all the eyerolling at Loretta’s insistence on keeping to her vow of chastity – and later the manner in which Hawk comes up with a way round it so they can get married and live happily ever after. Paxton is bland, Adele is a ninny… and the whole book was an utter slog from start to finish.
Readers, here’s something to YOU, with love. If you want an entertaining read, take my word for it when I tell you that this isn’t it. There are plenty of GOOD books out there for you to read, and I humbly suggest you pick up one of those instead.
So, here’s what we’ve got. Sloane Knox, the Duke of Hawksthorn, wants to arrange a suitable match for his younger sister Adele before she makes her début, because a decade ago, he and two of his friends played a prank on that year’s crop of debutantes and now he fears someone will use Adele in order to exact retribution. Hawk believes he has found the perfect mate for Adele in one Mr. Paxton Quick, a young, handsome and good-natured gentleman who lives … somewhere unspecified but far from London with his older sister, Loretta. Hawk has reached this conclusion because he has never seen Quick:
“… too deep in his cups, and he never gambles more than a handful of DOLLARS at the table.”
Well, I’m not surprised at that last bit, because how could he? Last time I checked, in England we use ENGLISH currency, strange as that may seem.
Hawk travels to Mammoth House in… some remote location, in order to discuss the match with Quick, only to discover that he is from home, and finds himself confronting the rather scrumptious, somewhat challenging Miss Quick instead. And so begins the mental lusting. At the ONE PERCENT mark on my Kindle:
She looked pure, sweet, and completely untouched by masculine hands. A sudden, deep rush of desire flamed through him, and the rhythm of his heartbeat changed.
By the end of the first chapter Hawk:
… wanted her with an intensity that he hadn’t felt in a very long time.
And in the next, we’re told our heroine is all a quiver because she:
… still wasn’t sure what to make of the new, startling, and unexplained feelings that had swept over her at the sight of him. She wasn’t out of breath, yet she was breathless. She wasn’t dizzy, yet she felt light-headed. She wasn’t hungry, yet looking at him caused a ravenous appetite to rise up within her.”
For god’s sake, someone get the woman a sandwich!
In a nutshell, the plot revolves around the fact that Loretta doesn’t want her brother to be forced or coerced into a marriage against his will, as almost happened to her when their uncle and guardian arranged for her to marry someone she didn’t love. Said uncle, the Earl of Switchingham, was – not surprisingly – somewhat miffed when Loretta didn’t turn up at the wedding, and banished her to the somewhat ramshackle Mammoth House in the back of beyond – but not before he’d forced her to make a holy vow – in church – never to marry. The banishment wasn’t extended to her brother, although he loyally opted to make his home with Loretta, but Quick travels to London frequently – which is how Hawk knows him – and Loretta lives quietly, accepting her exclusion from society even as she regrets missing out on the sort of life she could – and should – have had.
That is basically it. Hawk and Loretta butt heads (and other body parts, eventually) in a lot of exchanges that are lacking in either humour or wit, and there is hardly any chemistry between them whatsoever. She’s beautiful and stands up to him, he’s handsome and likes that she challenges him and they each fancy what they see, but there’s nothing beyond the insta-lust, and I couldn’t understand what either of them saw in the other beyond outward appearances. And then there’s the dialogue in the love scenes, which made me cringe:
On sweeping Loretta into his arms (in chapter four, no less) Hawk asks her of her former suitor:
“Did he hold you possessively like this and make you feel as if you were someone too precious to let go?”
…
“Did his lips hover longingly just above yours as mine are now, just waiting for you to invite him to take a taste of you?”
Did I just laugh my head off at such terrible pick-up lines?
The author attempts to inject some drama into the story by means of a sub-plot featuring a boy from the streets named Farley, whom we first meet when he knocks at the door of Loretta’s house begging for scraps – but quite honestly, I’m not sure what the point of it was, unless it was to show that lepoards rarely change their spots. And I almost hurt my head with all the eyerolling at Loretta’s insistence on keeping to her vow of chastity – and later the manner in which Hawk comes up with a way round it so they can get married and live happily ever after. Paxton is bland, Adele is a ninny… and the whole book was an utter slog from start to finish.
Readers, here’s something to YOU, with love. If you want an entertaining read, take my word for it when I tell you that this isn’t it. There are plenty of GOOD books out there for you to read, and I humbly suggest you pick up one of those instead.
December 9, 2017
2 Stars
They had no soft bed, no sheets to tangle in, but those things weren’t needed. They had all they needed growing and bursting between them.
Maybe you're doing it wrong if things are already "bursting".
This wasn't a bad read for me but unfortunately I wasn't feeling either of the main characters or the writing in general. The insta-lust is strong with this one even for me, the gal that normally doesn't care about the accuracy of her historical romances. Plus, Loretta's reason for not accepting Sloan's offers of a hot, hymen divesting hookup, and eventually more, didn't make much sense to me.
I'm open to trying other books by this author but overall this just wasn't my cuppa.
ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
They had no soft bed, no sheets to tangle in, but those things weren’t needed. They had all they needed growing and bursting between them.
Maybe you're doing it wrong if things are already "bursting".
This wasn't a bad read for me but unfortunately I wasn't feeling either of the main characters or the writing in general. The insta-lust is strong with this one even for me, the gal that normally doesn't care about the accuracy of her historical romances. Plus, Loretta's reason for not accepting Sloan's offers of a hot, hymen divesting hookup, and eventually more, didn't make much sense to me.
I'm open to trying other books by this author but overall this just wasn't my cuppa.
ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
December 7, 2017
A somewhat slow burn type of romance but I enjoyed it. I really am wondering if the author has a hidden theme somewhere in this series because the heroine's name is Loretta QUICK and the heroine in the previous novel is Esmeralda SWIFT. The upcoming 3rd novel has a heroine whose name is slated to be Marlena FAST. Anyway, I like the H and the h. The hero is an unrepentant rakish rogue, who wants to marry his sister to the heroine's brother before the social season begins in London. The heroine is against arranged marriages but she does agree to give the hero's sister a fair chance to get to know her brother before any contract can be signed.
It was a nice light read that was very sweet. The H was said to be a rake who had no immediate interest in marriage but he ended up being so besotted with the heroine that he soon proposed. The silly heroine, who had promised her domineering uncle never to marry, was the one who had declined his initial proposal. What a dumbass thing to do ! The hero loved her so much that he took her to a church ( which he broke into since it was closed ) and told her to ask God's forgiveness for breaking her previous vow to her uncle. It was so cute. There's also a side story line about a homeless boy the heroine saves. The epilogue was lovely ! The heroine gets an adorable puppy as one of her belated wedding gifts while she is having a picnic in the park with her new husband. I loved the fact there were dogs in this romance ! The H's sister is a dog lover and has a cute spaniel named Mrs. Wiggins ( I love it when dogs are given human names ) who gave birth to 3 adorable fat, tickly, cuddly, soft and beautiful little puppies !!!!!
I think I need an additional puppy for Christmas...
I am reading the first novel in the series now and can't wait to read the third one.
It was a nice light read that was very sweet. The H was said to be a rake who had no immediate interest in marriage but he ended up being so besotted with the heroine that he soon proposed. The silly heroine, who had promised her domineering uncle never to marry, was the one who had declined his initial proposal. What a dumbass thing to do ! The hero loved her so much that he took her to a church ( which he broke into since it was closed ) and told her to ask God's forgiveness for breaking her previous vow to her uncle. It was so cute. There's also a side story line about a homeless boy the heroine saves. The epilogue was lovely ! The heroine gets an adorable puppy as one of her belated wedding gifts while she is having a picnic in the park with her new husband. I loved the fact there were dogs in this romance ! The H's sister is a dog lover and has a cute spaniel named Mrs. Wiggins ( I love it when dogs are given human names ) who gave birth to 3 adorable fat, tickly, cuddly, soft and beautiful little puppies !!!!!
I think I need an additional puppy for Christmas...
I am reading the first novel in the series now and can't wait to read the third one.
November 30, 2017
Series: The Rakes of St. James #2
Publication Date: 12/5/17
This was a delightfully sweet read. It was well written, the characters were well developed and the story stayed on-point throughout. There was an excellent supporting cast along with the main hero and heroine. One thing that I loved about the book was the lack of forced drama and hand-wringing angst. It was a sweet, forward moving love story – and I really liked that.
This is the second book in the series, but it can easily be read as a stand-alone. The author gives enough of the background of the Rakes of St. James that you aren’t left wondering what is going on. The Rakes of St. James are three Dukes who caused a notorious scandal when they were much younger. They didn’t mean to, it was just that they were young, drunk and unthinking when they came up with a bet. ‘A Proper Gentleman’s Guide to Wooing the Perfect Lady’ had just been published and the three of them were laughing over it when they decided to wager on one of the passages in it. It said that a gentleman should never write an ‘anonymous admirer’ letter to a lady. So, they decided to write an anonymous letter to each of the twelve new debutantes making their come-outs that year. They asked the ladies to meet them, unchaperoned, at a particular secluded place. All of the ladies showed up and when word of what happened accidentally leaked out, reputations were damaged. Now, years later, the Dukes have their own sisters to bring out and they have to protect them from repercussions of that long-ago, ill-advised bet.
Adele Knox, the sister of Sloane Knox, the Duke of Hawksthorn (Hawk) is to make her debut this season and Hawk wants to assure that she doesn’t suffer any consequences from his long ago bet. He’s come up with the perfect solution – and Adele likes the idea. He’s going to arrange a betrothal for her before the season even begins. He’s researched and inquired and observed and thinks he has found the perfect candidate. Now, he just has to approach the young man, Paxton Quick, and see if he is amenable to the alliance.
Loretta Quick’s uncle has banished her to live at his remote estate – she’s never allowed to leave except for a once-a-year visit to his estate for Christmas. She’s not even allowed to go into the local village – she is required to stay at Mammoth House and not leave. What had she done to be punished so severely? She had walked out on her bridegroom who was waiting at the church. She’s been banished there for three long years and is sure she’ll never be allowed to leave.
When Hawk arrives at Mammoth House to speak with Paxton, he finds Loretta instead. There is insta-lust between the two. I thought that occurred a little quickly even for a romance novel. The insta-lust, kissing, etc. all happen within the first 10% of the book. One thing that made me giggle was the line (only 1% in) “She looked pure, sweet, and completely untouched by masculine hands”. I pictured her walking under a black light and handprints glowing or something.
I really liked both Loretta and Hawk. At first she sounds like a shrew and he seems arrogant, but that is over within the first couple of chapters. The more you get to know them, the more you like and admire them. I really enjoyed getting to know them and seeing them get to their HEA.
Please check out my reviews at:
Blog: https://flippinpages.blog/
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/flippinpages...
Twitter: https://twitter.com/FlippinPagesRev
"I requested and received this e-book at no cost to me and volunteered to read it; my review is my honest opinion and given without any influence by the author or publisher."
Publication Date: 12/5/17
This was a delightfully sweet read. It was well written, the characters were well developed and the story stayed on-point throughout. There was an excellent supporting cast along with the main hero and heroine. One thing that I loved about the book was the lack of forced drama and hand-wringing angst. It was a sweet, forward moving love story – and I really liked that.
This is the second book in the series, but it can easily be read as a stand-alone. The author gives enough of the background of the Rakes of St. James that you aren’t left wondering what is going on. The Rakes of St. James are three Dukes who caused a notorious scandal when they were much younger. They didn’t mean to, it was just that they were young, drunk and unthinking when they came up with a bet. ‘A Proper Gentleman’s Guide to Wooing the Perfect Lady’ had just been published and the three of them were laughing over it when they decided to wager on one of the passages in it. It said that a gentleman should never write an ‘anonymous admirer’ letter to a lady. So, they decided to write an anonymous letter to each of the twelve new debutantes making their come-outs that year. They asked the ladies to meet them, unchaperoned, at a particular secluded place. All of the ladies showed up and when word of what happened accidentally leaked out, reputations were damaged. Now, years later, the Dukes have their own sisters to bring out and they have to protect them from repercussions of that long-ago, ill-advised bet.
Adele Knox, the sister of Sloane Knox, the Duke of Hawksthorn (Hawk) is to make her debut this season and Hawk wants to assure that she doesn’t suffer any consequences from his long ago bet. He’s come up with the perfect solution – and Adele likes the idea. He’s going to arrange a betrothal for her before the season even begins. He’s researched and inquired and observed and thinks he has found the perfect candidate. Now, he just has to approach the young man, Paxton Quick, and see if he is amenable to the alliance.
Loretta Quick’s uncle has banished her to live at his remote estate – she’s never allowed to leave except for a once-a-year visit to his estate for Christmas. She’s not even allowed to go into the local village – she is required to stay at Mammoth House and not leave. What had she done to be punished so severely? She had walked out on her bridegroom who was waiting at the church. She’s been banished there for three long years and is sure she’ll never be allowed to leave.
When Hawk arrives at Mammoth House to speak with Paxton, he finds Loretta instead. There is insta-lust between the two. I thought that occurred a little quickly even for a romance novel. The insta-lust, kissing, etc. all happen within the first 10% of the book. One thing that made me giggle was the line (only 1% in) “She looked pure, sweet, and completely untouched by masculine hands”. I pictured her walking under a black light and handprints glowing or something.
I really liked both Loretta and Hawk. At first she sounds like a shrew and he seems arrogant, but that is over within the first couple of chapters. The more you get to know them, the more you like and admire them. I really enjoyed getting to know them and seeing them get to their HEA.
Please check out my reviews at:
Blog: https://flippinpages.blog/
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/flippinpages...
Twitter: https://twitter.com/FlippinPagesRev
"I requested and received this e-book at no cost to me and volunteered to read it; my review is my honest opinion and given without any influence by the author or publisher."
October 19, 2017
"Never send a young lady a secret admirer letter." ~ A Proper Gentleman's Guide to Wooing the Perfect Lady
Years ago, three friends came across this pearl of wisdom in "A Proper Gentleman's Guide to Wooing the Perfect Lady". Being just a little bit drunk at the time, they decided to put this piece of advice to the test to see what happened, betting who would get the most responses- with disastrous consequences for the ladies who received the letters and went out, unchaperoned, to meet their secret admirers who never showed. Now, The Rakes of St. James are trying to bring out their own sisters, and a rumor is going around that someone wants revenge and intends to ruin the Rake's sisters in return.
Desperate to protect his sister from scandal, Sloane Know, the Duke of Hawthorne, is determined to secure a proposal for his sister before the season starts, hoping an engagement will protect her. And he has the perfect gentleman in mind. The only problem is the man's sister, Loretta Quick, who, after scandalizing society by refusing to marry the man her uncle had intended for her, has promised herself that she will make sure her brother marries for love and nothing less. Captivated by her frank manners and her refusal to back down, they quickly form an attachment that threatens to turn both their lives around in ways they never expected.
This was my first book by Amelia Grey, and it won't be my last. I loved that this book was very low on forced drama, which I cannot stand. There were no stupid big misunderstandings, no meddling relatives, nothing really but them standing in the way of their own happiness. I quite liked the way these two fought to best each other in arguments and got to really know each other. I also enjoyed the fact that the author decided to incorporate a kid who grew up on the streets of London, which was a nice change from the usual characters you meet in a HR.
A few little quibbles: The insta-lust (really, the hero's entire world changes in the first second he sees her, which is in the first pages of chapter 1, was a bit too much for my tastes (I would've preferred a gradually growing attachment), and the hero's realization that he was in love came a bit out of nowhere for me. But all in all, it did manage to convince me in the end.
Also, the heroine was a bit too naive for my tastes (she took in a street urchin after he came begging to her house and basically collapsed from exhaustion before her, and is actually surprises that being nice to him doesn't magically heal behavior born of years of living on the streets), and her issues about vowing to never marry were resolved just a bit too easily for my tastes . I think another thing that might put some readers off is the way the hero wants to arrange a marriage for his sister. But really, once you meet the spoiled girl who is perfectly happy to not make a single decision for herself and thinks it's perfectly reasonable that her brother knows men better than she does, it does make sense in a way. I certainly never felt like the hero was patronizing her and I really felt that he was just trying to to as she asked and find her a nice man who would take care of her.
All in all, this was a nice, easy read. I guess for some readers this story wouldn't be exciting enough, but I really enjoyed that it was just a comfortable story about two nice people falling in love!
*I received an ARC from the published via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
Years ago, three friends came across this pearl of wisdom in "A Proper Gentleman's Guide to Wooing the Perfect Lady". Being just a little bit drunk at the time, they decided to put this piece of advice to the test to see what happened, betting who would get the most responses- with disastrous consequences for the ladies who received the letters and went out, unchaperoned, to meet their secret admirers who never showed. Now, The Rakes of St. James are trying to bring out their own sisters, and a rumor is going around that someone wants revenge and intends to ruin the Rake's sisters in return.
Desperate to protect his sister from scandal, Sloane Know, the Duke of Hawthorne, is determined to secure a proposal for his sister before the season starts, hoping an engagement will protect her. And he has the perfect gentleman in mind. The only problem is the man's sister, Loretta Quick, who, after scandalizing society by refusing to marry the man her uncle had intended for her, has promised herself that she will make sure her brother marries for love and nothing less. Captivated by her frank manners and her refusal to back down, they quickly form an attachment that threatens to turn both their lives around in ways they never expected.
This was my first book by Amelia Grey, and it won't be my last. I loved that this book was very low on forced drama, which I cannot stand. There were no stupid big misunderstandings, no meddling relatives, nothing really but them standing in the way of their own happiness. I quite liked the way these two fought to best each other in arguments and got to really know each other. I also enjoyed the fact that the author decided to incorporate a kid who grew up on the streets of London, which was a nice change from the usual characters you meet in a HR.
A few little quibbles: The insta-lust (really, the hero's entire world changes in the first second he sees her, which is in the first pages of chapter 1, was a bit too much for my tastes (I would've preferred a gradually growing attachment), and the hero's realization that he was in love came a bit out of nowhere for me. But all in all, it did manage to convince me in the end.
Also, the heroine was a bit too naive for my tastes (she took in a street urchin after he came begging to her house and basically collapsed from exhaustion before her, and is actually surprises that being nice to him doesn't magically heal behavior born of years of living on the streets), and her issues about vowing to never marry were resolved just a bit too easily for my tastes . I think another thing that might put some readers off is the way the hero wants to arrange a marriage for his sister. But really, once you meet the spoiled girl who is perfectly happy to not make a single decision for herself and thinks it's perfectly reasonable that her brother knows men better than she does, it does make sense in a way. I certainly never felt like the hero was patronizing her and I really felt that he was just trying to to as she asked and find her a nice man who would take care of her.
All in all, this was a nice, easy read. I guess for some readers this story wouldn't be exciting enough, but I really enjoyed that it was just a comfortable story about two nice people falling in love!
*I received an ARC from the published via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
November 1, 2017
DNF — think I'm going with 2 stars, because the writing was fine, so it wasn't all bad; there are definitely worse books
I couldn't get through this and decided to throw in the towel pretty early; was skimming by the time I got to 25% and stopped even trying not long after. Pretty quickly after starting, I had a feeling this wasn't going to be the book for me. I put it aside for Mary Balogh's Someone to Hold , which I proceeded to read cover to cover, and it reminded me again that there are too many books, too little time, and I wasn't going to waste any on a book that I couldn't get into.
What put me on alert immediately was the insta-lust that takes place between the hero and heroine. I'll admit it's hard for me to like that in HRs period, but it has been known to happen. The reason it didn't work here is the same reason why it normally doesn't work, and that's because it caused way too much eye-rolling and was SO over-the-top!
Loretta walks in, Sloane turns around, and BOOM , he's immediately struck: "She looked pure, sweet, and completely untouched by masculine hands. [what does that even mean?? what did he expect, handprints?] A sudden, deep rush of desire flamed through him, and the rhythm of his heartbeat changed." Puh-leaze. And of course, let's not forget to mention his on-fire loins—"Had she been his mistress he would have forgotten all about the growl of hunger in his stomach and fed the raging appetite in his loins." Better keep that thing on a leash, buddy.
Our heroine isn't much better: she's "quite simply shaking in her slippers" from when she first sees him, and not from fear or nervousness, but "because the moment she saw him, something changed inside her and she still wasn't sure what to make of the new, startling, and unexplained feelings that had swept over her at the sight of him. [I get desire and I get instant attraction, but all the "first sight" lightning strikings are too much for me!] She wasn't out of breath, yet she was breathless. She wasn't dizzy, yet she felt light-headed. She wasn't hungry, yet looking at him caused a ravenous appetite to rise up within her." Someone give the woman a meal (and enough with the constant sexual hunger).
Mind you, all of this is in the first 10% of the book, within only a few hours of meeting each other. And pretty much nothing has happened, except some back-and-forth banter that felt very forced, and lots and lots of dirty thinking. There were definitely some interesting possibilities and I had been excited by the summary—I love cast-out heroines and was looking forward to seeing how she would navigate everything, plus a good "enemies"-to-lover (even if not really outright enemies) plot can be the best when done well!
Other than both the leading characters' over-the-top-ness, the hero was arrogant and domineering, the heroine got on my nerves, her "vow" that she has to stick to is silly, etc. Seems to have pretty stellar ratings thus far though, so I'm glad others enjoyed it more than I did.
This review is of an ARC provided by NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Some changes and/or edits may be made to the final published version.
February 4, 2018
I really really enjoyed this. The writing was excellent and the hero and heroine were great. I liked that he wanted to help her escape from the life her Uncle had forced on her. I also liked how he was trying to find the perfect husband for his sister. I liked the h's brother very much and the H's sister. I would like to read more of their story.
The plot was simple; the h refused to marry a man her Uncle had selected and she jilted him. She then made a vow not to ever get married to her uncle and he sent her to a far off estate and made her stay there and wouldn't let her travel or go into society. The H picked her brother for his sister and went there to visit and the H fell for her like a ton of bricks. I liked him and his fight for her. Of course the road to love was difficult but it turned out wonderfully. I am off to read the first and third book now. This is a new author for me. I can't wait to explore her titles.
The plot was simple; the h refused to marry a man her Uncle had selected and she jilted him. She then made a vow not to ever get married to her uncle and he sent her to a far off estate and made her stay there and wouldn't let her travel or go into society. The H picked her brother for his sister and went there to visit and the H fell for her like a ton of bricks. I liked him and his fight for her. Of course the road to love was difficult but it turned out wonderfully. I am off to read the first and third book now. This is a new author for me. I can't wait to explore her titles.
December 6, 2017
To the Duke, with Love was an excellent continuation of the Rakes of St. James series with a delightful romance between an outspoken heroine and a charming, rakish hero.
In an effort to avoid the possibility of his sister being affected by his past misdeeds as one of the Rakes of St. James, Sloane Knox the Duke of Hawksthorn is hoping to arrange a marriage for her before the Season begins. However Hawk did not count on the intended groom’s own sister fighting to stop the match from taking place. Miss Loretta Quick narrowly avoided an arranged marriage of her own and does not intend for her brother to fall into such an arrangement when he could marry for love. Hawk and Loretta soon engage in a battle of wills, but the more the two spar, the closer they become.
Loretta has been in self-imposed exile for the last three years after she vowed never to marry when breaking her engagement to the man chosen by her uncle. Despite vowing never to marry, Loretta believes in the love found in her poetry books and thinks love should be all consuming. Her convictions surrounding her vow are strong and even after meeting Hawk and finding herself attracted to him, she intends to stick to her vow. I really liked Loretta right from the start and admired how determined she was and unwilling to let Hawk steamroll her just because he’s a duke.
Despite Hawk’s reputation as a rake, he’s actually a very kind and compassionate man who simply got into some mischief in his youth. He knows that as one of the Rakes of St. James, his past misdeeds may harm his sister now that she’s set to attend her first Season. As a result, he sets out to prevent any harm to her reputation by arranging a marriage before the Season begins. Hawk cares deeply for his sister and as a result has a tendency to indulge her. I admired how much his sister means to him and enjoyed the scenes where they were together.
Loretta and Hawk’s relationship began with some great verbal sparring and I loved watching them banter back and forth trying to beat the other. The two are pretty much instantly physically attracted to one another and quickly come to care for each other as they spend more time together. There are some great kissing scenes with a bit more throughout the book that culminate in one sex scene at approximately the 90% mark. All of the scenes are very well done although personally I would have liked a bit more as I prefer my romances slightly more explicit.
Over the course of To the Duke, with Love we have a few scenes with the other Rakes of St. James which were enjoyable. There are also a number of scenes with Paxton (Loretta’s brother) and Adele (Hawk’s sister) considering the goal is to arrange a betrothal with them. I found Paxton and Adele’s budding relationship to be very sweet and enjoyed the way things played out between them. Probably the largest side character/plot line outside of the siblings is the orphan Farley that Hawk and Loretta find. His storyline felt a bit out of place and definitely wasn’t a happy aspect of the book, but after reading the author’s note I understand why she included it.
Overall, To the Duke, with Love was an excellent addition to the Rakes of St. James series and I’m very excited for the final book to release next year. I highly recommend checking out these books if you’re looking for a new historical romance series to read.
**I received an advance copy of this book from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.**
In an effort to avoid the possibility of his sister being affected by his past misdeeds as one of the Rakes of St. James, Sloane Knox the Duke of Hawksthorn is hoping to arrange a marriage for her before the Season begins. However Hawk did not count on the intended groom’s own sister fighting to stop the match from taking place. Miss Loretta Quick narrowly avoided an arranged marriage of her own and does not intend for her brother to fall into such an arrangement when he could marry for love. Hawk and Loretta soon engage in a battle of wills, but the more the two spar, the closer they become.
Loretta has been in self-imposed exile for the last three years after she vowed never to marry when breaking her engagement to the man chosen by her uncle. Despite vowing never to marry, Loretta believes in the love found in her poetry books and thinks love should be all consuming. Her convictions surrounding her vow are strong and even after meeting Hawk and finding herself attracted to him, she intends to stick to her vow. I really liked Loretta right from the start and admired how determined she was and unwilling to let Hawk steamroll her just because he’s a duke.
Despite Hawk’s reputation as a rake, he’s actually a very kind and compassionate man who simply got into some mischief in his youth. He knows that as one of the Rakes of St. James, his past misdeeds may harm his sister now that she’s set to attend her first Season. As a result, he sets out to prevent any harm to her reputation by arranging a marriage before the Season begins. Hawk cares deeply for his sister and as a result has a tendency to indulge her. I admired how much his sister means to him and enjoyed the scenes where they were together.
Loretta and Hawk’s relationship began with some great verbal sparring and I loved watching them banter back and forth trying to beat the other. The two are pretty much instantly physically attracted to one another and quickly come to care for each other as they spend more time together. There are some great kissing scenes with a bit more throughout the book that culminate in one sex scene at approximately the 90% mark. All of the scenes are very well done although personally I would have liked a bit more as I prefer my romances slightly more explicit.
Over the course of To the Duke, with Love we have a few scenes with the other Rakes of St. James which were enjoyable. There are also a number of scenes with Paxton (Loretta’s brother) and Adele (Hawk’s sister) considering the goal is to arrange a betrothal with them. I found Paxton and Adele’s budding relationship to be very sweet and enjoyed the way things played out between them. Probably the largest side character/plot line outside of the siblings is the orphan Farley that Hawk and Loretta find. His storyline felt a bit out of place and definitely wasn’t a happy aspect of the book, but after reading the author’s note I understand why she included it.
Overall, To the Duke, with Love was an excellent addition to the Rakes of St. James series and I’m very excited for the final book to release next year. I highly recommend checking out these books if you’re looking for a new historical romance series to read.
**I received an advance copy of this book from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.**
December 16, 2017
This is a highly entertaining historical romance with great characters, plot and writing - I really enjoyed escaping into it!
A few years ago a prank carried out by Sloane Knox, the Duke of Hawksthorn (aka Hawk), and his friends caused them to be notorious and embarrassed the young ladies who were the victims of their actions. Now his own younger sister is due to be making her debut into society, Hawk is worried about others seeking revenge in some way that would be to her detriment. In an attempt to avoid any potentially damaging situations arising, he has convinced her to consider having a match secured before her debut. He has determined who he believes will be her perfect match and is endeavouring to speak to this potential groom to make the arrangements by travelling to his home. Unfortunately, fate has other plans for him and things won’t be as easy as he hoped! To begin with his horse is injured, then there’s a storm and then the gentleman’s sister, Miss Loretta Quick, doesn’t agree with arranged marriages! To top it all, the potential groom is away from home and Miss Quick is at home with only servants to chaperone them . . . . and he has to stay the night.
This was a lovely, sweet read. As well as the main characters the range of secondary characters give a glimpse into the world of the poor and children during the era. The quotes from ‘A Proper Gentleman’s Guide to Wooing the Perfect Lady’ which appear throughout the story add humour to the story - I would hope no man would ever think to follow the guidance, even in those times! Loretta was a great heroine! Her punishment for refusing to marry the man her guardian selected has led to her isolation in the family's original hunting lodge. She's determined to keep her vow and it takes time, patience and ingenuity for Hawk to be able to convince her to give their love a chance.
This is the second story in a series but works well as a standalone IMHO. I found it to be a page turner and delightful to escape into. I have no hesitation in recommending it to anyone who enjoys historical romance with a rake finding love when he least expected to do so!
I requested and received a copy of this novel, via NetGalley. This is my honest review after choosing to read it.
A few years ago a prank carried out by Sloane Knox, the Duke of Hawksthorn (aka Hawk), and his friends caused them to be notorious and embarrassed the young ladies who were the victims of their actions. Now his own younger sister is due to be making her debut into society, Hawk is worried about others seeking revenge in some way that would be to her detriment. In an attempt to avoid any potentially damaging situations arising, he has convinced her to consider having a match secured before her debut. He has determined who he believes will be her perfect match and is endeavouring to speak to this potential groom to make the arrangements by travelling to his home. Unfortunately, fate has other plans for him and things won’t be as easy as he hoped! To begin with his horse is injured, then there’s a storm and then the gentleman’s sister, Miss Loretta Quick, doesn’t agree with arranged marriages! To top it all, the potential groom is away from home and Miss Quick is at home with only servants to chaperone them . . . . and he has to stay the night.
This was a lovely, sweet read. As well as the main characters the range of secondary characters give a glimpse into the world of the poor and children during the era. The quotes from ‘A Proper Gentleman’s Guide to Wooing the Perfect Lady’ which appear throughout the story add humour to the story - I would hope no man would ever think to follow the guidance, even in those times! Loretta was a great heroine! Her punishment for refusing to marry the man her guardian selected has led to her isolation in the family's original hunting lodge. She's determined to keep her vow and it takes time, patience and ingenuity for Hawk to be able to convince her to give their love a chance.
This is the second story in a series but works well as a standalone IMHO. I found it to be a page turner and delightful to escape into. I have no hesitation in recommending it to anyone who enjoys historical romance with a rake finding love when he least expected to do so!
I requested and received a copy of this novel, via NetGalley. This is my honest review after choosing to read it.
December 5, 2017
Years ago Loretta made a vow that she will never break. Since that moment she has been isolated, away from friends and society. When Hawk arrives to present an arrangement to her brother she feels the whisper of discontent at what her life has turned out to be.
Hawk is instantly taken with Loretta and her forthright attitude and determination to win any argument. Even as he takes steps to solidify his plans for his sister he maneuvers circumstances to his benefit regarding the charming woman who has captured his attention.
While parts of this was wordy and full of introspection, the building relationship between the main characters was engaging. They are perfect for each other and yet Loretta cannot yield to Hawk’s desires. There is a couple of secondary storylines that helped to move the book along and the one regarding Farley was heart wrenching.
Overall, this was a pleasant read.
This is an honest review of an advanced copy provided by NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press.
Dual POV
Safe
No apparent triggers
Hawk is instantly taken with Loretta and her forthright attitude and determination to win any argument. Even as he takes steps to solidify his plans for his sister he maneuvers circumstances to his benefit regarding the charming woman who has captured his attention.
While parts of this was wordy and full of introspection, the building relationship between the main characters was engaging. They are perfect for each other and yet Loretta cannot yield to Hawk’s desires. There is a couple of secondary storylines that helped to move the book along and the one regarding Farley was heart wrenching.
Overall, this was a pleasant read.
This is an honest review of an advanced copy provided by NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press.
Dual POV
Safe
No apparent triggers
December 7, 2017
Hawk and Loretta had banter that was fun to follow. She didn't bow to his dukedom and stood her ground with him, even when he was determined to go to "war" with her.
I would have liked a little more closure between Loretta and her uncle. He banished her, but that all fell by the wayside when Hawk stepped in.
A great addition to this series. Amelia Grey is one of my go-to historical authors and she doesn't disappoint with this one.
I would have liked a little more closure between Loretta and her uncle. He banished her, but that all fell by the wayside when Hawk stepped in.
A great addition to this series. Amelia Grey is one of my go-to historical authors and she doesn't disappoint with this one.
December 5, 2017
TO THE DUKE, WITH LOVE by Amelia Grey is Book Two in "The Rakes of St. James". This is the story of Sloane Knox, the Duke of Hawksthorn and Loretta Quick. Hawk and a few of his friends caused a scandal a few years back that still seems to live on. Now Hawk's sister Adelethat is coming out / making her debut. So he plans to have her a husband before that happens. Hawk thinks the perfect man for her would be Paxton Quick. When he goes to talk to Paxton he instead meets Loretta.
Loretta knows all about arranged marriages. Loretta was strong enough to walk away from one but her Uncle did isolate her to the Mammoth House. Now three years later she is confronted with Hawks ideal for her brother and his sister. Loretta is not wanting that for her caring brother...he should have a love match. I am such a fan of Ms. Grey's writing...so for me this was just a joy to read! Loved it.
Loretta knows all about arranged marriages. Loretta was strong enough to walk away from one but her Uncle did isolate her to the Mammoth House. Now three years later she is confronted with Hawks ideal for her brother and his sister. Loretta is not wanting that for her caring brother...he should have a love match. I am such a fan of Ms. Grey's writing...so for me this was just a joy to read! Loved it.
December 7, 2017
To The Duke, With Love is the second in The Rakes of St. James series, about the loves of three dukes infamous for a prank they played a few years prior to the events of these books, inspired by a volume named A Proper Gentleman's Guide To Wooing The Perfect Lady. Quotes from this volume are scattered through the book and are frankly hilarious. Any gentleman who took the book's advice entirely to heart would be dull as mud and definitely overlooked by any lady with any spirit to her at all.
Loretta Quick, the heroine of this story, most definitely has spirit. Spirit enough to change her mind about the marriage her uncle arranged for her right at the altar, condemning herself to a life of exile from society. Until a darkly dangerous duke comes calling... but not for her.
The Duke of Hawksworth wants a safe husband for his sister before she has to face society and the perils it might hold from those who would take their revenge on her for his past sins. Paxton Quick is sensible, charming, friendly and perfect for Adele. His sister, however, is very much opposed to arranged marriages, and might prove an obstacle to his plans. To his peace of mind, too.
I really enjoyed the machinations of Hawk and Loretta as they both sought to protect their much-loved siblings and maneuver around the pitfalls of society, all while fighting their attraction to each other. There was some really intriguing social commentary about the double standards applied to women, though honestly I felt Loretta's vow never to marry was given under duress and she should have recognized that and been more than happy to rescind it at the earliest opportunity. I'm not particularly keen in insta-lust in Regencies, particularly for men, and there was a pretty bad case of it in this book. Despite that, it was well-written and there was a lot of thought given to the social expectations and strictures of the day. Four stars.
Disclaimer: I received this book for review through NetGalley.
Loretta Quick, the heroine of this story, most definitely has spirit. Spirit enough to change her mind about the marriage her uncle arranged for her right at the altar, condemning herself to a life of exile from society. Until a darkly dangerous duke comes calling... but not for her.
The Duke of Hawksworth wants a safe husband for his sister before she has to face society and the perils it might hold from those who would take their revenge on her for his past sins. Paxton Quick is sensible, charming, friendly and perfect for Adele. His sister, however, is very much opposed to arranged marriages, and might prove an obstacle to his plans. To his peace of mind, too.
I really enjoyed the machinations of Hawk and Loretta as they both sought to protect their much-loved siblings and maneuver around the pitfalls of society, all while fighting their attraction to each other. There was some really intriguing social commentary about the double standards applied to women, though honestly I felt Loretta's vow never to marry was given under duress and she should have recognized that and been more than happy to rescind it at the earliest opportunity. I'm not particularly keen in insta-lust in Regencies, particularly for men, and there was a pretty bad case of it in this book. Despite that, it was well-written and there was a lot of thought given to the social expectations and strictures of the day. Four stars.
Disclaimer: I received this book for review through NetGalley.
December 4, 2017
I received a copy of this title to read and review for Wicked Reads
5 Stars
To the Duke, with Love was a fast-paced, page-turning historical romance. This is the second installment of The Rakes of St. James series, but can easily be read as a standalone novel with little to no confusion.
After taking a vow to never marry, Loretta Quick has been imprisoned at Mammoth House by her ego-bruised uncle. She fled the altar to an arranged marriage, and would rather never marry, never have a life of her own, than be forced to do something without autonomy.
Stubborn, willful, and independent, Loretta is also a compassionate, passionate heroine, with the drive to do good for those who can't help themselves.
The duke, Hawk is fearful of his past misdeeds coming back to harm his little sister. The ton isn't known for being altruistic and compassionate, more like the three Vs- vicious, vindictive, and vapid. Hawk loves his sister, and would do anything to make sure she doesn't have to suffer through the Season, like she's on an auction-block with people who are out to get Hawk through her. An arranged marriage is the only other option... drawing Hawk to seek out Mr. Quick, Loretta's brother.
The plot connecting the H and h together was original and inventive. Sparks fly, heads butt, challenges are made between Hawk and Loretta, as they battle over arranged marriages and their own passions. Banterific, tension-filled, push-pull romance. Hawk knows what he wants, and Loretta believes in the vow she took inside a church, but the drive to be near one another is addictive.
The side stories are heartwarming, yet the realism is slightly dark, ensuring the romance doesn't become saccharine. A young, ill orphan joins the cast, showing Loretta's compassionate and maternal sides, while keeping it real with the orphan's actions/reactions. At the same time as the romantic entanglement, the siblings show another side to love and connection.
Thoroughly entertained, I read the novel in a single sitting, after having several books in a row that didn't resonate with me- no matter the small page-count, those books dragged, filled with unnecessary detailing, bogging down the pacing and burying the plot. Amelia Grey crafted a fast-paced read, filled with everything that makes a novel engaging, while leaving out all the fluff and filler that stalls reading enjoyment and makes it feel tedious.
I highly recommend this series and novel to fans of Historical Romance, who enjoy a more contemporary writing style, versus the industry standard of purple prose, right-clicking the thesaurus, unnecessary filler, and over-description.
I cannot wait to get my hands on the third installment next summer.
5 Stars
To the Duke, with Love was a fast-paced, page-turning historical romance. This is the second installment of The Rakes of St. James series, but can easily be read as a standalone novel with little to no confusion.
After taking a vow to never marry, Loretta Quick has been imprisoned at Mammoth House by her ego-bruised uncle. She fled the altar to an arranged marriage, and would rather never marry, never have a life of her own, than be forced to do something without autonomy.
Stubborn, willful, and independent, Loretta is also a compassionate, passionate heroine, with the drive to do good for those who can't help themselves.
The duke, Hawk is fearful of his past misdeeds coming back to harm his little sister. The ton isn't known for being altruistic and compassionate, more like the three Vs- vicious, vindictive, and vapid. Hawk loves his sister, and would do anything to make sure she doesn't have to suffer through the Season, like she's on an auction-block with people who are out to get Hawk through her. An arranged marriage is the only other option... drawing Hawk to seek out Mr. Quick, Loretta's brother.
The plot connecting the H and h together was original and inventive. Sparks fly, heads butt, challenges are made between Hawk and Loretta, as they battle over arranged marriages and their own passions. Banterific, tension-filled, push-pull romance. Hawk knows what he wants, and Loretta believes in the vow she took inside a church, but the drive to be near one another is addictive.
The side stories are heartwarming, yet the realism is slightly dark, ensuring the romance doesn't become saccharine. A young, ill orphan joins the cast, showing Loretta's compassionate and maternal sides, while keeping it real with the orphan's actions/reactions. At the same time as the romantic entanglement, the siblings show another side to love and connection.
Thoroughly entertained, I read the novel in a single sitting, after having several books in a row that didn't resonate with me- no matter the small page-count, those books dragged, filled with unnecessary detailing, bogging down the pacing and burying the plot. Amelia Grey crafted a fast-paced read, filled with everything that makes a novel engaging, while leaving out all the fluff and filler that stalls reading enjoyment and makes it feel tedious.
I highly recommend this series and novel to fans of Historical Romance, who enjoy a more contemporary writing style, versus the industry standard of purple prose, right-clicking the thesaurus, unnecessary filler, and over-description.
I cannot wait to get my hands on the third installment next summer.
October 15, 2017
***ARC review from St Martin’s Press*** Thank you to both
Yes this an Arc but all opinions are my own.
What do you get if you cross a notorious rake and a scandalous lady?
You get an interesting historical romance filled with twists and turns. The story follows Hawk a Duke who in his youth with two other Dukes wrote 12 scandalous ladies in their first season requesting a secret meeting and signing it from a secret admirer. Each had four ladies too woo. All 12 ladies showed and where disgraced for a short period. Now the dukes are older and their sisters are due have their 1st season. So his sister Adele does not fall into the hands of a lord or other gentleman trying to get revenge for his mistake, he decides to arrange his sister marriage before the start of the season. He decides on a young man who is a relative of an Earl as a suitable choice. But he does not expect to encounter the scandalous sister Loretta instead. Loretta is not allowed into society due to not going though with an arrangement marriage by her uncle on the day of the wedding. So she is banished to the countryside which suits her fine until she meets Hawk. The story unfolds from here.
I am glad that this story not only shows the rich of the recency period but also the poor in London’s underbelly.
If you love historical romances give this a go. I will definitely picking up more novels by the author
Yes this an Arc but all opinions are my own.
What do you get if you cross a notorious rake and a scandalous lady?
You get an interesting historical romance filled with twists and turns. The story follows Hawk a Duke who in his youth with two other Dukes wrote 12 scandalous ladies in their first season requesting a secret meeting and signing it from a secret admirer. Each had four ladies too woo. All 12 ladies showed and where disgraced for a short period. Now the dukes are older and their sisters are due have their 1st season. So his sister Adele does not fall into the hands of a lord or other gentleman trying to get revenge for his mistake, he decides to arrange his sister marriage before the start of the season. He decides on a young man who is a relative of an Earl as a suitable choice. But he does not expect to encounter the scandalous sister Loretta instead. Loretta is not allowed into society due to not going though with an arrangement marriage by her uncle on the day of the wedding. So she is banished to the countryside which suits her fine until she meets Hawk. The story unfolds from here.
I am glad that this story not only shows the rich of the recency period but also the poor in London’s underbelly.
If you love historical romances give this a go. I will definitely picking up more novels by the author
December 18, 2017
Sloane Knox, the Duke of Hawksthorn is one of the Rakes of St. James. He and his fellow rakes made a silly mistake when they we're young and somebody is making mischief because of it. Because he has a sister about to make her debut Hawk wants to make sure she doesn't suffer for his actions. He will arrange a marriage for her to an acceptable young man.
Miss Loretta Quick has lived a very quiet life in the country since she jilted a man at the altar. Her uncle who had arranged the marriage is punishing her for defying him. She vowed that she would never marry.
Her younger brother does his best to keep her company as often as he can but life in the quiet countryside is not for such a happy go lucky young man.
Our hero is a loving brother who knows where his responsibilities lay. The females in his life must be protected at all costs.
Our heroine is very softhearted and lonely.
A sweet historical romance with characters you can't help but fall in love with.
This is part of a series but each book can be read on it's own.
A lovely light read.
Miss Loretta Quick has lived a very quiet life in the country since she jilted a man at the altar. Her uncle who had arranged the marriage is punishing her for defying him. She vowed that she would never marry.
Her younger brother does his best to keep her company as often as he can but life in the quiet countryside is not for such a happy go lucky young man.
Our hero is a loving brother who knows where his responsibilities lay. The females in his life must be protected at all costs.
Our heroine is very softhearted and lonely.
A sweet historical romance with characters you can't help but fall in love with.
This is part of a series but each book can be read on it's own.
A lovely light read.
November 20, 2017
I received an arc of this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Sloane Knox, the Duke of Hawksthorn, who, along with his friends, wrote to 12 debutantes requesting a secret meeting and signing it from a secret admirer. Each lady turned up causing their marriage prospects to diminish. Now the Duke has a sister of his own about to debut and does not wish for her to suffer for his actions. He decides to arrange his sister marriage before the start of the season. He does not bargain on his choice of groom having a sister who is vehemently against arranged marriages.
Miss Loretta Quick has been banished to the country for refusing to marry the man of her uncle’s choosing. She has determined that her brother should marry a lady of his own choosing and will not allow a haughty duke to dictate to her even if he does inspire attraction.
This is a story of instant-lust. The two main characters are instantly drawn to each other upon meeting. The romance itself is interesting the banter between the two main characters was fun but I couldn’t connect to the characters. Loretta’s vow to remain single was ridiculous in my opinion and it was overcome way too easily.
As for the introduction of Farley, this should have been excluded altogether as your hopes are raised that this twelve-year-old street urchin will have a happy ever after but it becomes a side note. while Hawk’s treatment of Farley may have been typical of that era it’d not what I enjoy in a romance.
Sloane Knox, the Duke of Hawksthorn, who, along with his friends, wrote to 12 debutantes requesting a secret meeting and signing it from a secret admirer. Each lady turned up causing their marriage prospects to diminish. Now the Duke has a sister of his own about to debut and does not wish for her to suffer for his actions. He decides to arrange his sister marriage before the start of the season. He does not bargain on his choice of groom having a sister who is vehemently against arranged marriages.
Miss Loretta Quick has been banished to the country for refusing to marry the man of her uncle’s choosing. She has determined that her brother should marry a lady of his own choosing and will not allow a haughty duke to dictate to her even if he does inspire attraction.
This is a story of instant-lust. The two main characters are instantly drawn to each other upon meeting. The romance itself is interesting the banter between the two main characters was fun but I couldn’t connect to the characters. Loretta’s vow to remain single was ridiculous in my opinion and it was overcome way too easily.
As for the introduction of Farley, this should have been excluded altogether as your hopes are raised that this twelve-year-old street urchin will have a happy ever after but it becomes a side note. while Hawk’s treatment of Farley may have been typical of that era it’d not what I enjoy in a romance.
January 4, 2018
ARC REVIEW
The second book of the Rakes of St. James series, To the Duke, With Love, is a great second story that could be read as a stand-alone. It wasn't as good as the first one but it was still good. Aside from me just not liking Sloane as a boys name, blame Ferris Bueller for that, I liked this book.The few books of Amelia Grey's that I have read I have enjoyed. This one was amusing and entertaining and if I hadn't gotten sick while reading it and a sleep most the time I probably would have finished this book in one day.
The Rakes of St. James earned their name after a youthful drunken bet almost ruined a handful of girls, and now that their younger sister's are coming out there has been rumors going around that it's their sister's turn to be ruined. The Rakes have no idea who is at the root of this rumor but so far one sister is safety married. Sloane Knox, the Duke of Hawksthorn, is determined to marry his sister off before the season starts or at least have her engaged. Hawk has gone through all the young men of the ton and finally found one he thinks is best suited for his sister. Loretta Quick and her younger brother, Paxton, were raised by their uncle. When the time was right he arranged a marriage for Loretta, right before the wedding she changed her mind. He uncle furious sent her and her brother away to live in the isolated Mammoth House and forbid her to ever go into society again.
On a cold and wet night Hawk shows up at Mammoth House to talk with Paxton about arranging the marriage between his sister, Adele, and Paxton. What he finds is the stunning Loretta, and no Paxton. Instead of going on his way like a gentleman should the rain and the cold keep him there alone with Loretta, except the few servants. Hawks is fascinated with Loretta, she has him wanting things he's never wanted before and even though as a gentleman he shouldn't he kisses her anyways. Loretta is against this arranged marriage and plans to make it difficult for Hawk to talk Paxton into it, but as Hawk says it is ultimately her brother's decision. When he leaves he promises to return to see her brother, and see her too. They end up making a deal that Paxton and Adele will meet beforehand and decide if the arrangement is suitable or not. Paxton and Loretta will visit Hawk's country house and give everybody a chance to get to know one another, especially Hawk and Loretta. Hawk is willing to forget about his earlier determination never to marry as long as it is to Loretta. Loretta, however, has vowed never to marry and she takes that vow very seriously and Hawk will try his damnedest to get her to change her mind.
Overall, the romance between Hawks and Loretta is just that romantic and hot, the chemistry is there along with some great sexual tension. The secondary story of Loretta trying to save the street rat was nice and it helped move the story along. Grey's writing brought these two characters to life for me and very much enjoyed this and look forward to the next book.
The second book of the Rakes of St. James series, To the Duke, With Love, is a great second story that could be read as a stand-alone. It wasn't as good as the first one but it was still good. Aside from me just not liking Sloane as a boys name, blame Ferris Bueller for that, I liked this book.The few books of Amelia Grey's that I have read I have enjoyed. This one was amusing and entertaining and if I hadn't gotten sick while reading it and a sleep most the time I probably would have finished this book in one day.
The Rakes of St. James earned their name after a youthful drunken bet almost ruined a handful of girls, and now that their younger sister's are coming out there has been rumors going around that it's their sister's turn to be ruined. The Rakes have no idea who is at the root of this rumor but so far one sister is safety married. Sloane Knox, the Duke of Hawksthorn, is determined to marry his sister off before the season starts or at least have her engaged. Hawk has gone through all the young men of the ton and finally found one he thinks is best suited for his sister. Loretta Quick and her younger brother, Paxton, were raised by their uncle. When the time was right he arranged a marriage for Loretta, right before the wedding she changed her mind. He uncle furious sent her and her brother away to live in the isolated Mammoth House and forbid her to ever go into society again.
On a cold and wet night Hawk shows up at Mammoth House to talk with Paxton about arranging the marriage between his sister, Adele, and Paxton. What he finds is the stunning Loretta, and no Paxton. Instead of going on his way like a gentleman should the rain and the cold keep him there alone with Loretta, except the few servants. Hawks is fascinated with Loretta, she has him wanting things he's never wanted before and even though as a gentleman he shouldn't he kisses her anyways. Loretta is against this arranged marriage and plans to make it difficult for Hawk to talk Paxton into it, but as Hawk says it is ultimately her brother's decision. When he leaves he promises to return to see her brother, and see her too. They end up making a deal that Paxton and Adele will meet beforehand and decide if the arrangement is suitable or not. Paxton and Loretta will visit Hawk's country house and give everybody a chance to get to know one another, especially Hawk and Loretta. Hawk is willing to forget about his earlier determination never to marry as long as it is to Loretta. Loretta, however, has vowed never to marry and she takes that vow very seriously and Hawk will try his damnedest to get her to change her mind.
Overall, the romance between Hawks and Loretta is just that romantic and hot, the chemistry is there along with some great sexual tension. The secondary story of Loretta trying to save the street rat was nice and it helped move the story along. Grey's writing brought these two characters to life for me and very much enjoyed this and look forward to the next book.
October 22, 2017
Ok, so, here's my issue with this novel, I didn't like the protagonists.
The hero, Hawk, is too domineering, sometimes he doesn't make sense of what he wants and what he doesn't want, I found him to be a bit too pompous from time to time and, on top of all that, I completely disliked the way he behaves towards Farley.
I cannot like a hero who thinks that way, I'm sorry.
And I cannot even like an heroine who, despite the intention to help this poor boy, blames him so harshly
Plus she is bound by this vow that she's made to God to never marry. Ok, I don't share the idea, especially with her motives, but ok, I accept that...then she falls in love with someone, but she cannot marry him because of this vow, I am a bit clueless at this point, but I can also accept that. But then, the hero has the amazing idea
I cannot.
It doesn't make sense. How can you be so morally strict one moment and then contradict that the moment after?
I mean, the romantic attraction was there and palpable, I have to admit it. And this story wasn't all bad, the beginning was nice actually. But that's where it ended for me.
I received an ARC of this novel. Thanks!!!
The hero, Hawk, is too domineering, sometimes he doesn't make sense of what he wants and what he doesn't want, I found him to be a bit too pompous from time to time and, on top of all that, I completely disliked the way he behaves towards Farley.
I cannot like a hero who thinks that way, I'm sorry.
And I cannot even like an heroine who, despite the intention to help this poor boy, blames him so harshly
Plus she is bound by this vow that she's made to God to never marry. Ok, I don't share the idea, especially with her motives, but ok, I accept that...then she falls in love with someone, but she cannot marry him because of this vow, I am a bit clueless at this point, but I can also accept that. But then, the hero has the amazing idea
I cannot.
It doesn't make sense. How can you be so morally strict one moment and then contradict that the moment after?
I mean, the romantic attraction was there and palpable, I have to admit it. And this story wasn't all bad, the beginning was nice actually. But that's where it ended for me.
I received an ARC of this novel. Thanks!!!
October 14, 2017
his second installment in The Rakes of St. James series, by Amelia Grey, does not disappoint. Once again, we find the subject of interest to be a rakish Duke, trying to protect his sister, Adele, from encountering a man such as himself on the marriage mart during her first Season. To prevent any sort of mischief that might occur as payback for his earlier misdeeds, the Duke of Hawksthorn (Hawk) intends to see his sister betrothed before the Season actually begins and he believe he has found a proper suitor in Mr. Paxton Quick, the nephew of an Earl. But the problems arise upon Hawk meeting Quick’s sister, Loretta. She is against arranged marriages, having jilted her intended at the altar on her wedding day and is currently serving a life sentence of isolation by her uncle. The sparks fly immediately between Hawk and Loretta and while Adele and Paxton are happily pursuing an innocent courtship, their siblings fall prey to the clutches of passion. The Duke must convince Loretta to change her mind about never marrying and become his. But she will not agree without a fight. The excitement and heat between these two characters creates both a battle of wills and ultimately a battle of hearts.
I absolutely loved this story and look forward to the arrival of book three in the future. Amelia Grey is a gifted storyteller and I would wholeheartedly recommend her work to other readers.
I received this advanced copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I absolutely loved this story and look forward to the arrival of book three in the future. Amelia Grey is a gifted storyteller and I would wholeheartedly recommend her work to other readers.
I received this advanced copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
September 28, 2018
I love every book that Amelia Grey has ever written.
December 5, 2017
2.5 Stars
This is the second book in the Rakes of St. James series by Amelia Grey, it revolves around Sloane Knox, Duke Hawksthorn (Hawk) and Miss Loretta Quick. Hawk and his two friends had played a joke on some debutants in the past which backfired on them and has resulted in them being dubbed “the Rakes of St. James”. Due to this joke they have many people in the Ton, namely the brothers of the affected debutants, who would love to take revenge on them through their sisters who are all entering the Season one by one. Hawk’s sister is the latest to enter the season and Hawk is attempting to secure a match for her before it begins in order to keep her relatively safe from other gentlemen. He has identified the perfect gentleman for her and during his attempt to discuss his offer with the gentleman he finds an unexpected obstacle – the gentleman’s sister Ms. Quick.
Loretta Quick has been banished to live in the middle of nowhere after humiliating her uncle and guardian by walking out on an arranged marriage at the altar. She was made to take a vow never to marry and live away from society as a result of this. She is also determined to make sure that her brother is not himself trapped into a loveless arranged marriage.
I am generally a fan of Amelia Grey’s writing, however this novel did not do it for me. I found that I was struggling to finish and skimming through a lot of the text. While it is very well written, it was just – to be frank – boring. I did not believe in many aspects of the book. To start, the instant love that is felt by both Hawk and Loretta seemed very unbelievable, I can understand an immediate physical attraction but she turns around and right away Hawk seems to be instantly in love. I would have liked to see their attraction develop more realistically over time rather than through one meeting. After this one meeting and a night spent in the same house, they seem to think about each other constantly. They only really have two or three meetings before they are claiming to love each other. For a girl who comes across as pretty naïve, I can understand this on the part of Loretta. But for a notorious rake it is much harder to believe that two meetings with a girl is enough for love.
Another aspect of the book that bugged me was the willingness of Mr. Quick (Loretta’s brother) and Adele (Hawk’s sister) to just give in to the wishes of someone else. It was really strange that a young girl would be so willing to not just let, but actually want, her brother to choose a groom for her without even having the enjoyable experiences of flirting and being fawned over by other gentlemen. She seemed to have no interest in that with the only reason being that she couldn’t be bothered to put forth any effort. This really painted Adele as a very one-dimensional girl who only cares to live a simple life and be looked after. This was the same for Mr. Quick, he enters the novel admiring some girl he met at a party and wishing to see said girl again, and then ends the novel seemingly at ease with marrying another girl he just met. The reader never really gets to observe any sort of interaction between Adele and Mr. Quick other than the brief introductions, so it is difficult to understand why they even like each other. Mr. Quick was also painted very one-dimensionally, as a brother who just wants to be independent from his uncle and who is happy to settle for any nice girl.
In addition to this narrative, there is also the side story of a street child who comes into the Ms. Quick’s house in need of health care. Ms. Quick looks after the child and gets very emotionally attached – this can only be attributed to the fact that she lives in relative isolation in the middle of nowhere with no company. The whole story line with this boy also just seemed off, there was something very unrealistic about many aspects of it.
Lastly, the big moral dilemma of the story was that Ms. Quick took a vow in a church to new marry. She seems very set on this and won’t budge throughout the book. Yet towards the end, this problem is quickly resolved in a very abrupt way. Again, it all just was unrealistic to me as a reader.
Overall, I would not recommend this book. The writing was great and the conversations between the Duke and Loretta were fun to read. However, the plot was a bit unrealistic and it was not entertaining enough to keep me wanting to read.
~ Harshita
This is the second book in the Rakes of St. James series by Amelia Grey, it revolves around Sloane Knox, Duke Hawksthorn (Hawk) and Miss Loretta Quick. Hawk and his two friends had played a joke on some debutants in the past which backfired on them and has resulted in them being dubbed “the Rakes of St. James”. Due to this joke they have many people in the Ton, namely the brothers of the affected debutants, who would love to take revenge on them through their sisters who are all entering the Season one by one. Hawk’s sister is the latest to enter the season and Hawk is attempting to secure a match for her before it begins in order to keep her relatively safe from other gentlemen. He has identified the perfect gentleman for her and during his attempt to discuss his offer with the gentleman he finds an unexpected obstacle – the gentleman’s sister Ms. Quick.
Loretta Quick has been banished to live in the middle of nowhere after humiliating her uncle and guardian by walking out on an arranged marriage at the altar. She was made to take a vow never to marry and live away from society as a result of this. She is also determined to make sure that her brother is not himself trapped into a loveless arranged marriage.
I am generally a fan of Amelia Grey’s writing, however this novel did not do it for me. I found that I was struggling to finish and skimming through a lot of the text. While it is very well written, it was just – to be frank – boring. I did not believe in many aspects of the book. To start, the instant love that is felt by both Hawk and Loretta seemed very unbelievable, I can understand an immediate physical attraction but she turns around and right away Hawk seems to be instantly in love. I would have liked to see their attraction develop more realistically over time rather than through one meeting. After this one meeting and a night spent in the same house, they seem to think about each other constantly. They only really have two or three meetings before they are claiming to love each other. For a girl who comes across as pretty naïve, I can understand this on the part of Loretta. But for a notorious rake it is much harder to believe that two meetings with a girl is enough for love.
Another aspect of the book that bugged me was the willingness of Mr. Quick (Loretta’s brother) and Adele (Hawk’s sister) to just give in to the wishes of someone else. It was really strange that a young girl would be so willing to not just let, but actually want, her brother to choose a groom for her without even having the enjoyable experiences of flirting and being fawned over by other gentlemen. She seemed to have no interest in that with the only reason being that she couldn’t be bothered to put forth any effort. This really painted Adele as a very one-dimensional girl who only cares to live a simple life and be looked after. This was the same for Mr. Quick, he enters the novel admiring some girl he met at a party and wishing to see said girl again, and then ends the novel seemingly at ease with marrying another girl he just met. The reader never really gets to observe any sort of interaction between Adele and Mr. Quick other than the brief introductions, so it is difficult to understand why they even like each other. Mr. Quick was also painted very one-dimensionally, as a brother who just wants to be independent from his uncle and who is happy to settle for any nice girl.
In addition to this narrative, there is also the side story of a street child who comes into the Ms. Quick’s house in need of health care. Ms. Quick looks after the child and gets very emotionally attached – this can only be attributed to the fact that she lives in relative isolation in the middle of nowhere with no company. The whole story line with this boy also just seemed off, there was something very unrealistic about many aspects of it.
Lastly, the big moral dilemma of the story was that Ms. Quick took a vow in a church to new marry. She seems very set on this and won’t budge throughout the book. Yet towards the end, this problem is quickly resolved in a very abrupt way. Again, it all just was unrealistic to me as a reader.
Overall, I would not recommend this book. The writing was great and the conversations between the Duke and Loretta were fun to read. However, the plot was a bit unrealistic and it was not entertaining enough to keep me wanting to read.
~ Harshita
December 4, 2017
Amelia Grey’s To the Duke, with Love is a compassionate story with engaging characters that a reader can care deeply for. Sloane Knox, The Duke of Hawksthorne, has come up with a plan to arrange a marriage for his sister before her season begins in order to avoid any scandal due to his rakish reputation. Paxton Quick is the ideal man for Adele but there is one thing standing in his way; his sister Loretta. Loretta Quick knows all about how an arranged marriage can go wrong since it happened to her and now lives in exile of her own making. She isn’t going to let it happen to her brother without a fight and she will go to great lengths to see that her brother finds a marriage based on love. When a young orphan beggar lands on her doorstep one night, it takes both of them to arrange help for him, and gives them a chance to see the softer side of each other. Loretta sees a kinder Hawk and he sees a compassionate and caring woman. What develops is a character driven story of letting the past go and look to the future. It also shows a side of society that isn’t often seen before but reminiscent of a Dickens novel where there really isn’t a happy ending for everyone but we get one for our hero and heroine.
I love strong heroines and Loretta is most definitely one. Over the course of her isolation she has learned forgiveness and understanding and stands by her convictions and her own vow. She looks for the goodness in people and puts others happiness before her own. Hawk admires her and falls in love with her those attributes and must figure out a way for Loretta to let go of that vow so she may have a happy and loving life. The author has created an endearing story and truly shows a realistic slice of life in that time period. The second rake of St. James wasn’t looking for love for himself but he found it nonetheless with a very deserving lady. I thoroughly enjoyed it and look forward to the third and final Rake of St. James novel.
December 4, 2017
To the Duke, With Love by Amelia Grey
The Rakes of St. James #2
Three young men made a wager…
A scandalous wager – at least society said it was.
Three young dukes gained the dubious “honor” of being named…
…The Rakes of Saint James.
Years later Sloane Knox, Duke of Hawksthorn is worried about his sister’s first season…there are rumors that his sister might have to face drama as he and his friends created for twelve young women with their wager. So, his plan is to have Adele betrothed BEFORE her season begins. Little does he know that the Quick family might provide him and his both the perfect matches.
From the first meeting of Loretta Quick and Hawk the sparks flew. There was a kiss but Loretta was way too smart to allow more. The book does finally see them together but it takes effort on Hawk’s part to achieve his heart’s desire. Adele and Paxton have a nice side story that may also provide a much tamer HEA at some point in the future.
There is another thread in the story of an orphaned street boy that appears at Loretta’s door. Hawk never really trusts him but does keep an eye on him. Loretta wants Farley to have a life and family that is more than he has known but whether or not he will be willing to make changes or even want to do so is left hanging a bit. It might be nice to hear what eventually becomes of him in the future.
I enjoyed the story and it was in keeping with the era but it did not overwhelm me or draw me in as some books do. I wondered how realistic Loretta’s situation would have been and how she could be so malleable and obedient to her uncle while also so strong willed when with Hawk. I found Hawk to be an okay guy but kind of wanted to know more about him and his regular life and what he enjoyed doing. All in all it was an okay story and I would like to find out what will happen to the third Rake of St. James when Duke Rathburne’s story is told.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC – This is my honest review.
3-4 Stars
The Rakes of St. James #2
Three young men made a wager…
A scandalous wager – at least society said it was.
Three young dukes gained the dubious “honor” of being named…
…The Rakes of Saint James.
Years later Sloane Knox, Duke of Hawksthorn is worried about his sister’s first season…there are rumors that his sister might have to face drama as he and his friends created for twelve young women with their wager. So, his plan is to have Adele betrothed BEFORE her season begins. Little does he know that the Quick family might provide him and his both the perfect matches.
From the first meeting of Loretta Quick and Hawk the sparks flew. There was a kiss but Loretta was way too smart to allow more. The book does finally see them together but it takes effort on Hawk’s part to achieve his heart’s desire. Adele and Paxton have a nice side story that may also provide a much tamer HEA at some point in the future.
There is another thread in the story of an orphaned street boy that appears at Loretta’s door. Hawk never really trusts him but does keep an eye on him. Loretta wants Farley to have a life and family that is more than he has known but whether or not he will be willing to make changes or even want to do so is left hanging a bit. It might be nice to hear what eventually becomes of him in the future.
I enjoyed the story and it was in keeping with the era but it did not overwhelm me or draw me in as some books do. I wondered how realistic Loretta’s situation would have been and how she could be so malleable and obedient to her uncle while also so strong willed when with Hawk. I found Hawk to be an okay guy but kind of wanted to know more about him and his regular life and what he enjoyed doing. All in all it was an okay story and I would like to find out what will happen to the third Rake of St. James when Duke Rathburne’s story is told.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the ARC – This is my honest review.
3-4 Stars
November 30, 2017
Because of a bet among three rich and inconsequential boys, Sloane Knox, Duke of Hawksthorn, aka Hawk (he was one of the boys mentioned), had to be careful that his little sister, Lady Adele, was not the target of revenge.
For this, he was willing to find her a suitable husband before the Season began.
After researching for candidates, he went to Mammoth House to meet with Mr Quick, the nephew of the Earl of Switchingham.
However, Mr Quick was not at home, and Hawk had to deal with the host's older sister, Miss Loretta Quick.
Loretta Quick had her own share of scandal.
Years ago, when her uncle arranged a convenience marriage for her, Loretta preferred to decline in a crowded church, causing her uncle to be vexed. Because of this, she was a prisoner in that country house, and had a vow never to marry again, ostracized by the Ton.
But Hawk was there on a mission and he never ran away of a challenge. Even more so when he finds himself facing the beautiful woman who is not afraid to tell truths in his face.
Hawk wanted a husband for his sister, but eventually found himself looking for a wife. A "wife" who could never marry.
---------------------
In the second book of the series Rakes of St James, the author decided to bring into the second plot a subject rarely commented on in the historical novels: the difficult life of those who did not have the opportunity in life or were born of families with possessions.
Loretta helps a boy who appears at her door, hungry and sick. But this truth is long overdue. The realization that you can not change the stripes of a tiger.
Interesting and harmonious main and secondary plots.
And now, comes the curiosity in knowing how the third friend will deal with the danger of revenge since he is the only one of the three who does not have a sister to protect.
5 stars
ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange of an honest review
For this, he was willing to find her a suitable husband before the Season began.
After researching for candidates, he went to Mammoth House to meet with Mr Quick, the nephew of the Earl of Switchingham.
However, Mr Quick was not at home, and Hawk had to deal with the host's older sister, Miss Loretta Quick.
Loretta Quick had her own share of scandal.
Years ago, when her uncle arranged a convenience marriage for her, Loretta preferred to decline in a crowded church, causing her uncle to be vexed. Because of this, she was a prisoner in that country house, and had a vow never to marry again, ostracized by the Ton.
But Hawk was there on a mission and he never ran away of a challenge. Even more so when he finds himself facing the beautiful woman who is not afraid to tell truths in his face.
Hawk wanted a husband for his sister, but eventually found himself looking for a wife. A "wife" who could never marry.
---------------------
In the second book of the series Rakes of St James, the author decided to bring into the second plot a subject rarely commented on in the historical novels: the difficult life of those who did not have the opportunity in life or were born of families with possessions.
Loretta helps a boy who appears at her door, hungry and sick. But this truth is long overdue. The realization that you can not change the stripes of a tiger.
Interesting and harmonious main and secondary plots.
And now, comes the curiosity in knowing how the third friend will deal with the danger of revenge since he is the only one of the three who does not have a sister to protect.
5 stars
ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange of an honest review
November 8, 2017
To The Duke, With Love by Amelia Grey reminded me why I love historical/regency romance.
There's just something about the balls and gowns, dukes and duchesses, society and all that, it makes me wish I've been born then... I think what I found most interesting about this book was that for once, there weren't balls for the heroine to attend. Imagine that!
I enjoyed the banter between Loretta and Hawk from the moment they first meet. Sparks fly, yet I didn't think it was love at first sight as they're just intrigued by what they see.
Hawk is the perfect (alpha) gentleman. Once he sets his mind on winning Loretta, he doesn't waver. Even when he shares with his friends the challenge she presents, he's always thinking of how not to lose her when he's only just found her. I loved that. He sort of reminds me of Sebastian, the Duke of St Ives, one of my favorite heroes of all time.
I liked that Loretta isn't the naive type of heroine. She's no damsel in distress, and has learned to live within the means her uncle provides as part of her punishment for not marrying the man of his choosing. She's also not quick to fall for the duke. She knows he can get her out of her misery but she refuses to do that because that would be too easy, and she wants true love. I was totally digging her reasons.
However, I did find Paxton, her brother, and Hawk's sister annoying and unreal. Hawk's sister was too childish for a young woman who's 18 years old, and therefore the arrangement between her and Paxton didn't seem right to me. Thank goodness his sister was in few scenes, else I'm not sure I would've been able to read the book.
All in all, this was a good book that I might read again.
This was originally published on https://aquaintrelleinthecity.com
There's just something about the balls and gowns, dukes and duchesses, society and all that, it makes me wish I've been born then... I think what I found most interesting about this book was that for once, there weren't balls for the heroine to attend. Imagine that!
I enjoyed the banter between Loretta and Hawk from the moment they first meet. Sparks fly, yet I didn't think it was love at first sight as they're just intrigued by what they see.
Hawk is the perfect (alpha) gentleman. Once he sets his mind on winning Loretta, he doesn't waver. Even when he shares with his friends the challenge she presents, he's always thinking of how not to lose her when he's only just found her. I loved that. He sort of reminds me of Sebastian, the Duke of St Ives, one of my favorite heroes of all time.
I liked that Loretta isn't the naive type of heroine. She's no damsel in distress, and has learned to live within the means her uncle provides as part of her punishment for not marrying the man of his choosing. She's also not quick to fall for the duke. She knows he can get her out of her misery but she refuses to do that because that would be too easy, and she wants true love. I was totally digging her reasons.
However, I did find Paxton, her brother, and Hawk's sister annoying and unreal. Hawk's sister was too childish for a young woman who's 18 years old, and therefore the arrangement between her and Paxton didn't seem right to me. Thank goodness his sister was in few scenes, else I'm not sure I would've been able to read the book.
All in all, this was a good book that I might read again.
This was originally published on https://aquaintrelleinthecity.com
December 6, 2017
Maybe 3.5 stars
I liked this installment of the Rakes of St. James, but I didn't love it.
The Duke of Hawksthorn "Hawk" wants to spare his sister, Lady Adele any heartache his past prank may cause her in the season by having her betrothed before it starts and he has found the perfect match for her, Mr. Paxton Quick, there is only one thing standing in his way........Paxton's sister Loretta.
Banished to the country after refusing to marry the man her uncle chose for her, Loretta is determined to make sure her beloved brother is not forced to marry against his will.
These two have an instant connection, but Hawk isn't looking for a match for himself and Loretta has taken a vow to never marry. But neither can deny the pull of attraction between them. Hawk finds ways to see Loretta and when he finally asks her to marry him, she refuses, holding fast to her vow.
Hawk will have to find a way to convince Loretta to set aside her vow or lose the only woman he has ever loved.
The book is well written, but it is very "put-downable", there is no real conflict, drama, angst or villain, and nothing keeping them apart save Loretta's insistence at adhering to a vow she was forced to make. There is a bittersweet side plot involving an orphaned boy and a host of charming secondary characters, a lot of sexual tension and one or two semi-steamy love scenes and finally a HEA. This is the second story in the series, but it could absolutely be read as a stand alone title with no problem.
*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an Uncorrected eARC that was provided to me by NetGalley and the publisher.*
I liked this installment of the Rakes of St. James, but I didn't love it.
The Duke of Hawksthorn "Hawk" wants to spare his sister, Lady Adele any heartache his past prank may cause her in the season by having her betrothed before it starts and he has found the perfect match for her, Mr. Paxton Quick, there is only one thing standing in his way........Paxton's sister Loretta.
Banished to the country after refusing to marry the man her uncle chose for her, Loretta is determined to make sure her beloved brother is not forced to marry against his will.
These two have an instant connection, but Hawk isn't looking for a match for himself and Loretta has taken a vow to never marry. But neither can deny the pull of attraction between them. Hawk finds ways to see Loretta and when he finally asks her to marry him, she refuses, holding fast to her vow.
Hawk will have to find a way to convince Loretta to set aside her vow or lose the only woman he has ever loved.
The book is well written, but it is very "put-downable", there is no real conflict, drama, angst or villain, and nothing keeping them apart save Loretta's insistence at adhering to a vow she was forced to make. There is a bittersweet side plot involving an orphaned boy and a host of charming secondary characters, a lot of sexual tension and one or two semi-steamy love scenes and finally a HEA. This is the second story in the series, but it could absolutely be read as a stand alone title with no problem.
*I am voluntarily leaving a review for an Uncorrected eARC that was provided to me by NetGalley and the publisher.*
December 15, 2017
Hawk is one of the Rakes of St James and is afraid his younger sister will be a target for revenge because of his past actions. To avoid this the duke wants to find a suitable match for his sister before the Season starts. He has someone in mind, a kindhearted young man named Paxton. However, Paxton has a sister, who's a lot tougher to handle. Instead of having his first meeting with the man he wants to be his sister's future husband, he has to deal with Loretta, a woman who doesn't believe in arranged marriages.
Loretta wants Paxton to marry someone he loves, so she isn't going to help Hawk with his plans. Loretta has made a vow and is paying dearly for it. To escape an unhappy marriage to a nobleman chosen by her uncle she's now on her own, not allowed to leave the remote house she's living in. Hawk thinks he can change this, but he hasn't counted on Loretta's stubbornness and her determination to keep her vow. He's in for a challenge, will he succeed in his quest to make Loretta change her mind?
To the Duke, With Love is a fantastic romantic story. I was captivated by Hawk and Loretta's story from the start. Hawk has a reputation, but he also has a good heart and wants to protect the people he loves. He's honest and resourceful, something I really liked about his character. Loretta is strong, smart and resilient. She doesn't let anything get to her and I admired her courage. She's a good match for Hawk and I loved their banter, their sparks and their easy companionship. It's a good basis for a story and for me it worked very well. I couldn't put To the Duke, With Love down and read the book in one sitting. It put a big smile on my face and I loved every sentence.
Amelia Grey has a wonderful heartwarming writing style. I can easily picture the time she writes about because of her vivid descriptions of houses, clothing, food and etiquette. I love how she makes her main characters come to life. To the Duke, With Love is entertaining, charming, surprising and sweet. I absolutely loved this fantastic story that's filled with beautiful true love, romantic gestures and fascinating chance meetings and highly recommend it.
Loretta wants Paxton to marry someone he loves, so she isn't going to help Hawk with his plans. Loretta has made a vow and is paying dearly for it. To escape an unhappy marriage to a nobleman chosen by her uncle she's now on her own, not allowed to leave the remote house she's living in. Hawk thinks he can change this, but he hasn't counted on Loretta's stubbornness and her determination to keep her vow. He's in for a challenge, will he succeed in his quest to make Loretta change her mind?
To the Duke, With Love is a fantastic romantic story. I was captivated by Hawk and Loretta's story from the start. Hawk has a reputation, but he also has a good heart and wants to protect the people he loves. He's honest and resourceful, something I really liked about his character. Loretta is strong, smart and resilient. She doesn't let anything get to her and I admired her courage. She's a good match for Hawk and I loved their banter, their sparks and their easy companionship. It's a good basis for a story and for me it worked very well. I couldn't put To the Duke, With Love down and read the book in one sitting. It put a big smile on my face and I loved every sentence.
Amelia Grey has a wonderful heartwarming writing style. I can easily picture the time she writes about because of her vivid descriptions of houses, clothing, food and etiquette. I love how she makes her main characters come to life. To the Duke, With Love is entertaining, charming, surprising and sweet. I absolutely loved this fantastic story that's filled with beautiful true love, romantic gestures and fascinating chance meetings and highly recommend it.
November 13, 2017
To the Duke with Love by Amelia Grey
4 stars
I won this book in a goodreads giveaway for a fair and honest review.
First of all this book is an arc so I am going to let the multiple error’s slide such as a few missing words and some time line issue’s hopefully those will be fixed in the final copy.
This book is about Miss Loretta Quick who has been banished to the country after refusing to marry the man her uncle had picked out for her and the Duke of Hawksthorn who in his younger days was part of a giant scandal that has stayed with him and is now about to ruin his sister’s coming out.
He decides to pick a husband for her at her request, he decides on Paxton Quick Loretta’s brother. This is how the hero and heroine meet. The book is very fast paced only a few months in all. I love Loretta and Hawk and this is a book I would defiantly read again but the secondary characters of Paxton and Adele seemed very one dimensional and good for nothing beside pushing Loretta and Hawk together.
Loretta’s vow she took to never marry and how serious she takes this is a bit ridiculous at times especially how they end up freeing her from said vow,
but all in all a good book. This is the second the series and I would go back and read the first and pick up the third when it comes out.
This book will be released in December.
4 stars
I won this book in a goodreads giveaway for a fair and honest review.
First of all this book is an arc so I am going to let the multiple error’s slide such as a few missing words and some time line issue’s hopefully those will be fixed in the final copy.
This book is about Miss Loretta Quick who has been banished to the country after refusing to marry the man her uncle had picked out for her and the Duke of Hawksthorn who in his younger days was part of a giant scandal that has stayed with him and is now about to ruin his sister’s coming out.
He decides to pick a husband for her at her request, he decides on Paxton Quick Loretta’s brother. This is how the hero and heroine meet. The book is very fast paced only a few months in all. I love Loretta and Hawk and this is a book I would defiantly read again but the secondary characters of Paxton and Adele seemed very one dimensional and good for nothing beside pushing Loretta and Hawk together.
Loretta’s vow she took to never marry and how serious she takes this is a bit ridiculous at times especially how they end up freeing her from said vow,
but all in all a good book. This is the second the series and I would go back and read the first and pick up the third when it comes out.
This book will be released in December.
December 6, 2017
To the Duke, with Love is the second book in The Rakes of St. James series from Amelia Grey, but the very first book I've read by Amelia Grey. I absolutely adored her voice, so I'm already looking at her backlist for when I'm caught up a bit more on my TBR list.
Loretta Quick might just be one of my favorite historical characters ever. She made no apologies for her choices in life and had pretty much decided her fate was to remain at her uncle's hunting home for the rest of her life as penance for ending her engagement right as the wedding was to begin. She also will protect anyone she cares for from being forced into an arranged marriage if at all possible.
Enter the Duke of Hawksthorn...and really all of Loretta's choices were going out the window. Seriously loved the banter between these two characters. They attraction was palpable and I impatiently waited for them to be together through much of the book. In fact, my only issue with the story was how long it took for Hawk and Loretta to actually make love. I loved that Loretta continuously thought of the kisses she and Hawk shared, and Hawk wasn't really any different, as he worked to make it possible to see Loretta again as often as possible.
The romance between their siblings was a sweet romance, and it really seemed to be the polar opposite of the one between Loretta and Hawk, who had a hard time staying away from one another and keeping their hands off each other from the very beginning. I think seeing the two couples showed that both types of romances can work, though, I much preferred Loretta and Hawk's romance.
To the Duke, with Love was a very enjoyable historical romance. I really enjoyed Amelia Grey's voice and look forward to reading more books from her in the future. I highly recommend To the Duke, with Love to all readers who enjoy historical romance books.
Rating: 4 Stars (B)
Review copy provided by publisher
Loretta Quick might just be one of my favorite historical characters ever. She made no apologies for her choices in life and had pretty much decided her fate was to remain at her uncle's hunting home for the rest of her life as penance for ending her engagement right as the wedding was to begin. She also will protect anyone she cares for from being forced into an arranged marriage if at all possible.
Enter the Duke of Hawksthorn...and really all of Loretta's choices were going out the window. Seriously loved the banter between these two characters. They attraction was palpable and I impatiently waited for them to be together through much of the book. In fact, my only issue with the story was how long it took for Hawk and Loretta to actually make love. I loved that Loretta continuously thought of the kisses she and Hawk shared, and Hawk wasn't really any different, as he worked to make it possible to see Loretta again as often as possible.
The romance between their siblings was a sweet romance, and it really seemed to be the polar opposite of the one between Loretta and Hawk, who had a hard time staying away from one another and keeping their hands off each other from the very beginning. I think seeing the two couples showed that both types of romances can work, though, I much preferred Loretta and Hawk's romance.
To the Duke, with Love was a very enjoyable historical romance. I really enjoyed Amelia Grey's voice and look forward to reading more books from her in the future. I highly recommend To the Duke, with Love to all readers who enjoy historical romance books.
Rating: 4 Stars (B)
Review copy provided by publisher
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