Gayle's Review of Pretending to Love a Lyon by Dayna Quince

They clash like fire and ice, but their attraction is undeniable.

Lady Amelia Clark finds herself in a desperate gamble when her twin brother, the Earl of Alston, falls victim to a tragic accident. To protect them both, Amelia must keep his dire condition a secret from their enemies, and Amelia’s only ally is the man who loathes her—her brother’s best friend, Mr. Graham Blakewood.

Despite their tumultuous past, Graham vows to protect Amelia at all costs, even if it means masquerading as her fiancé. As they navigate societal expectations and lurking threats, their fake engagement becomes dangerously complicated. And when their facade unravels and long-buried feelings come to light, they must confront the consequences of their tangled web of lies.

In a final, desperate attempt to save her brother’s life, Lady Amelia strikes a bargain with the notorious Mrs. Bessie Dove-Lyon, the Widow of Whitehall, for her discreet services and powerful influence. But there is always a price to pay when gambling with love and death.

Will Amelia and Graham risk everything for a chance at true happiness, or will the stakes prove too high?

Enjoy book one in a new series within The Lyon's Den Connected world titled Risking It All by Dayna Quince.

Book 1 - Pretending to Love a Lyon
Book 2 - To Steal a Lyon’s Heart
Book 3 - The Lyon Won’t Lose

A fantastic new series from Dayna Quince.

Lady Amelia Clark is engaged in a complex deception with Mr. Graham Blakewood. Graham is her brother’s best friend. Everything in Amelia's life is hanging by a thread and the only one who can help her is Graham, Graham is an annoyance to Amelia . . . until he isn't. I loved Dayna Quince's writing style and the way this story unfolded. Dayna Quince drops you right into the story and it's a wild ride with so much tension. Great beginning to a three-part series. Graham is a very desirable and likable hero in an incredibly awkward situation. Amelia is inexperienced, impulsive and everything she does is to protect her brother. This book packs a punch loaded with emotion, tension and a believable slow building romance.

Very entertaining and emotional.

Reviewed by Gayle

Review ARC provided by Dragonblade Publishing 

Gayle's Review of Look Before You Leap by Virginia Heath

 Coming June 24, 2025

The second hilarious and heartwarming novel in the Miss Pretence’s Protégées Regency romp of a series

Nine years ago, Lord Guy Harrowby, Viscount of Wennington, was publicly humiliated when a reckless romantic gesture went very wrong. Despite that, his mother held tight to the promise he made her then: that she would have a house full of grandchildren by his thirtieth birthday. Still single, embittered, and swiftly approaching that milestone birthday, there’s not a grandchild in sight. His heart now lies with his land and work is his life. In desperation, his mother decides that if he refuses to venture back into society to find her future daughter-in-law, the only solution is to bring society to him via a weeklong houseparty so that she can find one for him. The first Guy knows about her plan is when her hand-picked gaggle of debutantes arrive at his estate, all competing to be his wife.

After failing miserably as a governess, Lottie Travers isn’t proving to be any better at being a lady’s companion. As the only girl in an all-male household growing up, she’s developed several bad habits she can’t shake and keep getting her dismissed. Even after years of Miss Prentice’s teachings, Lottie still climbs a tree better than she embroiders, and still cannot seem to curb the desire to gallop astride a horse in breeches whenever an opportunity arises. But with the family farm in trouble, and her father now in dire need of her wages to keep it afloat, she’s determined to conquer her wildness once and for all and concentrate on her career.

Even with his home full of eligible women, there is only one that catches Guy’s eye, as much as he tries to deny it. And succeeding in her new role is easier said than done for Lottie when the Wennington Estate is filled with horses and she can’t help but feel a spark around the grumpy Lord. By the end of the week, will the two of them remain stuck in their ways, or will they learn that they may just be the perfect match?

Do you love grumpy heroes and feisty heroines? Look no further than Look Before You Leap by the talented Virginia Heath. Look Before You Leap is the second book in Miss Prentice’s Protege’s, but it easily reads as a standalone. Lottie Travers and her friends were students at Miss Prentice’s School for Young Ladies and she has returned to the school after losing her job as a governess. Lottie is at a crossroads and her future looks gloomy. She needs to find employment soon to help her family farm. Lottie’s love of horses and her creative way of finding a horse to ride has caused issues in her past employment. Yet despite the trouble it has caused she continues to need to ride and the faster the better. On one such wild ride in Hyde Park on a borrowed horse she meets Lord Guy Harrowby, Viscount Wennington and sparks fly. Or hooves. Such a great meeting and Lottie and the Guy are destined to annoy each other all the while fighting a growing mutual attraction. This couple are obviously soul mates and there is more than their love of horses that bring them together. Throw in great side characters such as the hero’s widowed mother who just wants to throw him a birthday party, his outrageous but caring aunt who happens to be Lottie's new employer and a party of unwanted conniving debutantes, this story rolls right along with chaos and charm. Guy and Lottie are a well-matched pair who navigate the pitfalls of their blooming relationship with humor and passion. There are funny situations and touching ones as well. Look Before You Leap is perfect for old and new fans of Virginia Heath. Look Before You Leap is one of my favorite books that Virginia Heath has written. Do yourself a favor and grab this book, I know you will love it. 

☆☆☆☆☆ Reviewed by Gayle  Review ARC provided by St. Martin's Press, St. Martin's Griffin via Netgalley Publication date: June 24, 2025

#Entertaining #Funny #Happily-Ever-After #Favorite Author #Wonderful characters

Gayle's review of Love, The Duke by Amelia Grey

Coming April 1

 

LOVE, THE DUKE

Say I Do, Book 3

When the Duke of Hurstbourne receives a letter from his childhood friend asking him to marry his sister, Hurst declines. He’s not adverse to taking a bride, but he believes in love at first sight—not marriage sight-unseen. So it is with heightened interest that the well-heeled person standing in front of his desk, attired in tailored finery, challenges his quick instinct and tells him this is no man. Rather, a resourceful and fiery young lady disguised as a man. And a superb disguise at that.

Adhering to society’s strict propriety for ladies, Ophelia Stowe has no choice but to present herself as a man to seek the Duke of Hurstbourne’s favor. If not for the dire situation she finds herself in, she wouldn’t have asked for help from a man who had rebuffed her. When the handsome duke’s response is a plan of his own, Ophelia never dreams it would be a proposal of a marriage of convenience.

But the stakes are high, and the good name of the Stowe family will be damaged if a missing antiquity isn’t found. When she accepts his offer, she quickly finds she isn’t immune to the passion building between her and her new husband--or how real the marriage begins to feel.

Love, The Duke is a quick read, with a likable hero and heroine and is the third book in the Say I Do Series. I am not familiar with Amelia Grey's writing, and I haven't read the first two books in the series, but the book worked for me as a standalone. Love, The Duke is a very visual story, and I enjoyed the author’s description of the characters, clothing and objects. The story was entertaining overall and really started off strong. Ophelia Stowe and The Duke of Hurstbourne have an instant attraction once they get past the awkwardness of their initial meeting. There are several entertaining moments, and my favorite was when Hurst must extract Ophelia from an awkward situation of her own making. The story falters for me when the hero starts to parent Ophelia's behavior, and the couple argue about things they have gone over before. The end picks up with a mad dash to the finish as the couple must resolve the mystery as well as navigate their budding relationship. There is an emotional and touching moment between Hurst and Ophelia that wrap things up nicely.

Love, The Duke is perfect for existing fans of Amelia Gray and those who like a sweet romance with a bit of mystery.

Review by Gayle

Review ARC provided by St. Martin's Press, via Netgalley

Publication Date: 4/1/2025

#entertaining #funny #hea #readromance