Laura Lee Guhrke - Bookshop Cinderella

Evie Harlow runs a quaint little bookshop in London, which is the biggest adventure an unmarried woman with no prospects could hope for. Until Maximillian Shaw, Duke of Westbourne, saunters into her shop with a proposition: to win a bet with his friends, he’ll turn her into the diamond of the season. The duke might be devilishly attractive, but Evie has no intention of accepting his ludicrous offer. When disaster strikes her shop, however, she’s left with little choice but to let herself be whisked into his high-society world.
Always happy to help a lady in distress, Max thinks he’s saving Evie from her dull spinster’s life. He’ll help her find a husband and congratulate himself on a job well done. But as shy Evie becomes the shining star he always knew she could be, she somehow steals his heart. And when her reputation is threatened, can Max convince her to choose a glittering, aristocratic life with him over the cozy comfort of her bookshop?

Comment: I have read several books by this author by now, and the majority has appealed,which is why, when I saw the blurb for this Bookshop Cinderella I was very excited. The story seemed to have key elements I knew I'd love. Sadly, this one didn't impress me as much as I wanted.

Evie Harlow has a bookshop which is what she has left from her father but things aren't great and she compensates by doing some extra tasks, such as helping Delia, an aristocratic woman who organizes special nights at the Savoy. Due to a sudden trip, Delia sends in her cousin Max, the duke of Westbourne, to Evie's shop to get some papers and their first meet isn't the greatest. Following this, the duke and a few other guys agree on a bet, that Evie could be a successful introduction at a ball, and the duke decides to share this idea with her, which she refuses. However, her shop has a problem and Evie decides to use the time for this experiment, which she thinks she would never be able to have otherwise, but are they ready to spend so much time together and commit the mistake of falling in love?

The idea of this story certainly made me imagine many sweet, romantic possibilities and I was all for a plot in which class differences and social expectations would be taken out of the way by true love, but the pace of the story simply slowed me down in what I thought would happen.

When these two meet, it felt the story would go on to have a lighter mood, a quiet acceptance by them as their interactions would increase. However, I was quickly unimpressed by how unrealistic things were. I mean, of course they had to be this way, how could a duke and a working girl have common ground in any other way, but while I can't explain properly, the dynamics between them never convinced me of their chemistry,even though I liked their conversations.

I think my issue was mainly with the pace, things happened in a way I struggled to see in my head. I liked it that Max told Evie about the bet instead of allowing this to become an issue between them, but the way this happens, that she goes on to live at the Savoy for a while and how they dance so she can practice, these things seemed cute at a certain angle, but it all happened very quickly and I just could not be convinced that proximity alone would have made such an impact on them. I also like their conversations and how they shared some things about them, but the falling in love process felt rushed.

Since the plot included several unlikely scenarios, I think the progress of the relationship felt less powerful. I mean, there are many historical romance stories out there, some I have read, with anachronism and unrealistic situations and sometimes these issues don't bother me when it comes to the enjoyment of the book, but in this case I just could not separate my experience from imagining the main characters' meeting that way,or seen through that lens, and then all the social things they share... no, better saying, how others see them interact and it's as if it's not a big deal. 

I have liked this author's work and, in general, I like her "voice". However, I think things here didn't quite match some of her most meaningful efforts when it comes to express the characters' developing emotions. Some things just felt like they had to be on instead of being organic to what Max and Evie were going through... and I say this knowing that they do discuss important issues about themselves and about where things are going between them.

The story has an HEA, obviously, which means Max and Evie do talk about their relationship, do admit they like one another and that their feelings are everlasting. There is a very flashy scene, in fact, regarding this, which is absolutely not heard of when it comes to an historical, but in the fantasy context of this being a romance novel, it was meant to be seen as a romantic gesture. The problem, for me, is that I was rather indifferent to them by this point. I liked it that they found happiness, but I wasn't moved by what they had faced.

Thus, this was a cute romance, yes, with supposed great scenes but the collection of details I could not put aside made things seem a little weakly linked. I will debate continuing this series...

Grade: 6/10

Laura Lee Guhrke - With Seduction in Mind

London Society is harsh for a young woman with no family connections who has to work for a living. But when Daisy Merrick is sacked from yet another job, the feisty and outspoken miss comes up with a plan that could give her a future beyond her wildest dreams. There's only one problem. Her success depends on a man, the most infuriating, impossible, immovable man she's ever met. His resolution . . .
Sebastian Grant, Earl of Avermore, is England's most infamous author. Known for his notorious reputation, he is more interested in play than work, and has no intention of cooperating when Daisy shows up on his doorstep with a mad plan. The provoking, fire-haired beauty stirs his senses beyond belief, and Sebastian knows he has only one way to stop her. Seduction.

Comment: This is the final installment in the Girl Bachelor series by author Laura Lee Guhrke, which I've decided to read now so I could finish another series on hold.

In this book we have the story of Daisy, the dreamy and optimist girl bachelor of the group. Daisy has had many posts but she has not lasted long in none because she can't keep her opinion to herself, nor is she as aware of how her words or reactions are taken by others. Now, Daisy is on the lookout for another job but she fears her sister's Lucy patience won't last when she knows she is unemployed again. Thankfully, serendipity puts her near Marlowe publishing and she hopes to take one of her books and how wonderful would be if she could tell Lucy she lost her job but found a solution?

At the same time, renowned author Sebastian Grant, an earl whose work of fiction has delighted many, is going through a bad phase and his latest play flopped. His friend Harry Marlowe has been his publisher for long but he is definitely disappointed. An ultimatum puts him in the path of Daisy, who has recently criticized his play and trashed it, although her opinion was quite on point. Could it be that if they worked together, they both accomplish their goals?

I actually liked the plot of this book, for it revolves around books and the writing of them, and how something most only see as a final result/product has been a work of months or years and it's more than a collection of words. Daisy here embodies a type of writer who is methodical and a plotter while Sebastian is more a character driven writer. I liked this dichotomy between them which, along with the difference in their backgrounds and personalities, made them personify a sort of opposites attract kind of trope.

The real character study here is on Sebastian, in my opinion. He has gone through an emotional journey which was presented in a rather quick manner but from which a lot could be seen. He has had fame and fortune, to prove his father dreams do come true. Although his relationship with his father was lost, he has gain much but the price was also very high, mainly when it affected his health and peace of mind, due to the companies he kept and the illicit aids he used.

This has affected his mind, his self confidence, his belief in his own worth and skills... he has done what he could to improve and change back to whom he was before the made bad decisions but some things just can't be recovered. By having to spend time with Daisy, he is forced to think on those decisions, to consider if he can actually become a better person and regain his ability to write. I think these considerations and the whole drama content were used in a very correct manner by the author. Adding the more sunny disposition of Daisy the story really turned out to be enjoyable.

Daisy is always in a good mood and she faces adversity and problems in a mostly happy way, not letting herself be put down when things don't go well. When she meets Sebastian, they could not be more different but her perseverance and cleverness helped him want to try to write again, to do something about where his life took him, even if he tells himself the only aim he had was to seduce her and to prove she was wrong when he failed. Of course, this led them into a romance, especially because she spent some time at one his estates, with one of aunts as chaperone.

It is truly a disappointment that the romance was my least favorite part of the novel. It started with both having hidden intentions but the emotions became real very quickly. Still, this only happens way into the story, probably half way or even after, which still makes me think the ratio of romance content vs plot is still quite unbalanced and not even the free interpretation that their initial animosity might hide attraction is enough to convince me their relationship was that strong and even before the big conflict and the HEA in the end happen too.

Although things end happily for them, I still think certain elements could have been done better. I liked the more inner issues they both dealt with than the actual romance, and even removing some predictability, the romance wasn't as special as I imagined. Despite this, I liked this book more than the previous one and, overall, this was certainly a very pleasant series.

Grade: 7/10

Laura Lee Guhrke - Secret Desires of a Gentleman

Maria Martingale was going to elope. But Phillip Hawthorne, Marquess of Kayne, put a stop to those plans when he learned his younger brother intended to marry a cook's daughter. Now, twelve years later, Maria discovers that the man who holds her fate in his hands is none other than the haughty gentleman who sent her packing—and he's as handsome and arrogant as ever.
Always the proper gentleman, Phillip will do anything to protect his family from scandal, and when Maria dares to move in right next door, he knows scandal will surely follow. She is as tempting as he remembered . . . and the more he sees her, the harder it is for Phillip to keep his own secret desire for her a secret.

Comment: This is the third installment in the Girl Bachelors series by author Laura Lee Guhrke. I enjoyed reading the previous stories although they weren't amazing, but there is always hope the next one will be it. Sadly, I feel this third installment wasn't better for me than the previous ones.

In this story we finally have Maria Martingale as the protagonist. She is a baker and has learned from her father who used to be a chef. Maria was raised to be a lady but it is true she has always felt closer to her father's role and she dreams of having her own patisserie. Things finally come true with the help of her friend, the duchess of St Ives, who lends her money to do precisely that, and Maria has just found the perfect spot when she stumbles on Phillip, the marquess of Kayne. Phillip and his younger brother Lawrence were Maria's childhood friends, since her father worked for the old marquess and they got to know each other well, at least until the time they were all older and Maria and Lawrence were in love and wanted to elope. Phillip intervened, since he was by then the marquess and felt this relationship had no future. Now, years later, can they all become friends again or what Phillip did cannot be salvaged? And why was Phillip so intensely against a marriage for Maria and Lawrence?

If one ignores some obvious influences for certain scenes in this book, I'd say the story is simple but effective, for it doesn't run around in circles and many others do. However, I must say the directness or the objectiveness of the plot wasn't enough to give this book a very structured feel anyway because the pace certainly didn't help either.

The story begins with Maria looking for a place to have her shop and Phillip just happens to be the neighbor next door. All fine in romancelandia, but if this was the perfect setting to make them have to interact and deal with what happened and their feelings, I think the author didn't make the best use of these coincidences because the pace wasn't on point. I can't have precise numbers but it felt as if half the novel was setting up the stage for why they weren't in the best of terms, what happened and why did that affect them, but the actual relationship only starts to have more attention from half way on and it felt a bit too late for me.

Perhaps this impression wouldn't have been that bed if the pages setting up things had been on point, but to me they weren't. We obviously learn that Maria and Lawrence weren't really in love, it was more infatuation, but despite their now mutual understanding of this, I don't think the author conveyed the necessary angst or emotions to let us feel why their separation was such a heartbreak. If the romance now were to be with these two, there was plenty to work with but alas, the romance is between Phillip and Maria and we realize he has been in love with her, perhaps without being really aware of those feelings.We see some hints of it, but it is all so lost among the talk about Maria and Lawrence and secondary things that when Maria and Phillip do get together, it felt meh.

Since we don't really have the use of drama and angst from all the issues in the past, nor now in regards with the issues Maria and Phillip are facing, the story started to feel a bit underdone to me. I liked all the baking stuff and the little details about Maria's passion for her patisserie but not even when situations related to this could affect her opinion of Phillip made the story more vibrant. I also think their personalities - Phillip in particular - weren't very memorable and considering the supposed longing and the sort of "loved you for years" trope the author hinted at, this didn't pan out well enough.

When it feels things couldn't be solved - intimacy between Phillip and Maria also felt out of place, they had barely acknowledged they thought about the other that way, especially Maria - then comes one of those love declarations that, honestly, are cheesy and I would not appreciate if it happened to me, and the HEA finally is achieved. I cannot say I had a great time reading this story even though a few details were interesting and the writing is easy to follow. Comparing to the others, this was weaker for me... and now reading the blurb of the next and last installment, I'm afraid of what might come out of it...

Grade: 6/10

Laura Lee Guhrke - The Wicked Ways of a Duke

Surviving on a seamstress' income and a steady stream of fantasies, Prudence Bosworth has always longed for love and romance. Then she inherits a fortune from the father she's never seen, with the stipulation that she wed in one year. Prudence is determined to marry for true love, and after seeing firsthand the splendid chivalry of a certain duke, only one man will do . . .
Rhys de Winter, the Duke of St. Cyres, hides his cynicism behind a quick wit and an even quicker smile. He must marry an heiress, and as luck would have it, the pretty little seamstress-turned-heiress is exactly what he needs. But he never expected to fall for Prudence, and when his shocking deception is revealed, he will stop at nothing to win her back . . . even if it means renouncing every last one of his wicked ways.

Comment: This is the second installment of the Girl Bachelors series. I've read the first one in the series one year ago but I still remembered some details of it while reading this one, which doesn't always happen when there's quite a bridge of time between readings.

In this second story, we follow Prudence Bosworth, a seamstress and part of the group of friends who has lodgings with mrs Morris. She was happy for her friend Emma when she married a viscount, but she also let go some of her fantasies go, that she too could still find her perfect man. Real life, though, is more difficult and, when the story begins she is practicing all her patience to endure the treatment of an entitled lady whose dress she is fixing. She is suddenly "rescued" by the duke of St Cyres, whom everyone knows is in debt. Nevertheless, she appreciates his chivalry, which she believes even stronger when he helps another maid later on, and when she receives an unexpected inheritance, she starts dreaming he can look at her again. But is he as honorable as she believes or as wicked as others claim?

In general, I liked this story and it was certainly easy for me to turn the pages. I especially liked the tone, not too serious, not too silly but with a sweet heroine and a traditional trope, meaning some situations were to be expected. It's true that sudden inheritances weren't that easy to happen but it's not a completely impossible situation nor that unrealistic. What I think is that the way this was used could have been better.

The plot can seem rather contrived, because the heroine has always been poor, her mother not well seen by many for her father abandoned them and they weren't married, and her close family didn't treat her well. As an adult she has friends but not many others she can trust or that she feels would help her. Of course, we root for her since she discovers her father left her a lot of money and apart from the obvious romance with the indebted duke, part of us also expects this will have the sort of moral lesson we like to see: money doesn't mean instant or forever happiness.

At first, Prudence is happy she is now able to accomplish a lot, but the money comes with conditions and one is she will have to marry. Only she doesn't have someone, but conveniently she had seen the duke be a good man, unlike what everyone said about him and we, the reader, also know he has qualities and heroic reasons for some of his mistakes...we only learn that closer to the end, so the plot is basically about his attempt to win her hand and her slow but steady disillusionment with the idea that having money equals doing whatever she wants.

I think both Prudence and Rhys, the duke, were intriguing enough to make this happen. They are opposites, and not just in class, because she is clearly a dreamer and an innocent, seeing the good in everything. This doesn't mean she is unaware of how others can be mean, but her nature is clearly one of positivism and it can be quite a contrast with his, darker and more sarcastic. His family life isn't good, he has things in his past which affected him severely and this does affect his choice of behavior for a long time. 

The romance is a bit unfair, because we know he isn't as well intended as Prudence believes, even though of course the truth isn't as bad as gossip would spread. Nevertheless, the romance felt a little unbalanced because of this, if one element is "blind" to the truth... I think the author could have done this better, or making her less naive (at times if felt rather unreal for a working woman, even though her upbringing was formal), or making the situation develop differently, or adding angst so the truth would have more impact...

When the story is getting to the end, I thought the author would go a certain way when Prudence discovers the truth, but there is a very small twist, which although quite obvious, was still neat enough to make this part of the story feel a little different from the norm and I actually liked that.

This is cut book to read, not too complicated, some things weren't done that well, I certainly could have done without a few scenes and I do wish the protagonists could have acted a bit more their age, considering the situations they were in. This is a cute romance but could be so much better and, at times, it can difficult to not think how.

Grade: 7/10

Laura Lee Guhrke - And Then He Kissed Her

Supremely sensible Emmaline Dove wishes to share her etiquette expertise with London's readers, and as secretary to Viscount Marlowe, Emma knows she's in the perfect position to make her dream come true. Marlowe might be a rake with a preference for can-can dancers and an aversion to matrimony, but he is also the city's leading publisher, and Emma is convinced he's her best chance to see her work in print...until she discovers the lying scoundrel has been rejecting her manuscripts without ever reading a single page!
As a publisher, Harry finds reading etiquette books akin to slow, painful torture. Besides, he can't believe his proper secretary has the passion to write anything worth reading. Then she has the nerve to call him a liar, and even resigns without notice, leaving his business in an uproar and his honor in question. Harry decides it's time to teach Miss Dove a few things that aren't proper. But when he kisses her, he discovers that his former secretary has more passion and fire than he'd ever imagined, for one luscious taste of her lips only leaves him hungry for more.

Comment: This book has had many positive reviews and is often recommended as good historical romance. This is not the first book by the author I try and, in general, I would say my appreciation has been positive. That is why I felt confident I would enjoy reading this one too.

In this novel we meet proper lady secretary Emma Dove, who has worked years for Harry, viscount Marlowe, and her role has been priceless to keep his affairs in order. The viscount has no problem saying he likes business and Emma hopes he will publish her own work someday, especially since he has newspapers and publishing businesses. Their relationship is all work related until the day Emma finally discovers the viscount doesn't really read the books she gives him. That propels a reaction from her neither would really see coming but before Emma regrets her decision, Harry starts seeing someone brave and passionate underneath her poise as someone bland. Could it be these two have much more in common than what they believed?

There were several good elements about this story I liked. I would say my favorite element was how Emma seemed to have a great evolution as a character. She goes from someone uninteresting to a daring woman who wanted to reach for happiness. I can confess I didn't think it was very wise of her to embark on a relationship with the hero the way they did, I was not convinced her personality would have enabled her to really be comfortable with how things went, but for sake of romance, it was good this had a happy ending.

When this story begins, Emma is a dutiful and professional secretary, who has found pride in working for a man and being as successful as any man would be, perhaps even more so. Those she deals with recognize her efforts and her professional behavior and depend on her for their own success in dealing with the businesses viscount Marlowe has. I liked how she was presented, polite and professional, perhaps not very impressive but someone who followed the rules. She, of course, has dreams, and the biggest one is to have her work on etiquette published, things she wrote with the advice and lessons from her aunt, the person who raised her.

I liked how we see a side of Emma that makes her a good girl, someone worthy of the respect of others as well. Her following of the rules also works as a way to contrast with what she does later on, when she has this, we would call, eureka moment where she feels she has to do something with her life, as she feels time is passing her by. It was obvious why we have two sides of the same person, so that we can better understand why she felt like changing but call me a prude, I don't think her radical way of behaving was convincing. It's difficult to imagine someone like Emma changing so much at a time where a woman's reputation could be in danger. yes, they take caution with their meetings but... for me, this part of the story disappointed me a bit. I'd rather have them pining, changing their wishes in life, without the physical matters muddling things even more.

Harry is a good enough hero, I'd say, but while I liked how he changed his point of view about Emma and started seeing her for all that she is worth instead of just how convenient her role as secretary is, I wish their story had been more romantic, less about how well they do in bed. It's great he paid attention and was able to read her attitude as the result of upbringing and wanting to please the aunt who helped her so much but to have her be a hedonist in disguise felt silly. Although, I suppose that the romantic gesture at the end made up for some less than good things.

The relationship is complicated for they are from different classes. Nowadays we like to think this wouldn't matter, but there's a reason why there were rules about how to behave in society. It wouldn't have been easy for them to cope if their affair was obvious. I think it lasted for quite too long before Emma realized she can't change her personality in a radical way...but this is a romance so of course everything ends up well in the end.
Grade: 7/10

Laura Lee Guhrke - Heiress Gone Wild

When Jonathan Deverill promised a dying friend he'd be guardian to the man's daughter, he envisioned a girl in pigtails and pinafores, a child he could leave behind in some finishing school. Problem is, his ward is actually a fully-grown, defiant beauty whose longing for romance threatens to make his guardianship a living hell.
New York heiress Marjorie McGann wants a London season and a titled husband who can help her spend the Yankee millions she's inherited, and she thinks her new British guardian is the perfect person to help her find him. But Jonathan has no intention of letting his friend's fortune be squandered. Under his watchful, protective eye, Marjorie finds romance hard to come by...until one fateful night when her own guardian's devastating kisses makes her wonder if the greatest romance of all might be right in front of her.

Comment: This is the 4th installment in the Dear Lady Truelove series and although there is no Truelove letters in sight, the protagonist is the brother of the women who have been in charge of the newspaper which features the column with Lady Truelove's advices.

In this story we have the focus on the guardian/ward trope and it's finally possible to get to know the brother of Irene and Clara, the protagonists in the first two books.

Jonathan Deverill has had a row with his father and he has gone away to find his own path, abandoning England. He has made his way into America where he found a great friend who, after years of friendship and working together in the same business and an illness, has asked Jonathan to take care of his daughter. Jonathan expected a young child but who he finds is Marjorie, a young woman who is much more attractive than he can forget.

Marjorie has been in the same academy for girls all her life and she is eager for a change and freedom to travel to England like some of her friends have done. She wants to get married and have the life she has dreamed of but her new guardian has other plans. Marjorie, however, won't let herself be left behind...

Well, the previous books in the series were cute, enjoyable, a little silly in some situations but with interesting emotional notions sprinkled here and there.

I must say this was nothing like the others in any of these aspects and, to be honest, it was not that great to read. I can see why it would appeal but to me, personally, it just didn't work out completely.

I'd say the biggest issue I found and that has influenced my appreciation was the idea of the story itself. I think the author could have used the same trope, the same main themes but had the story been planned differently, it might have gained a lot from it.

That Marjorie wanted a different life, wanted to experience another type of life, I can understand. But I really struggled to understand and to find positive elements in her decision to deceive Jonathan and follow him to England. I think there would still be good reasons for her to travel there anyway without having to play a prank on Jonathan.

Saying this, it feels like I liked Jonathan better but the reality is that he wasn't a great protagonist either. I can understand his reasons to be distant, to not want to be responsible for Marjorie but he wasn't understandable and didn't deal with the situation in an adult way.

Then they are traveling by ship, of course that propels more butting heads but while this could have been used to make the reader feel the intensity of their attraction and why they should suit, I think the opposite happened and I admit I was a bit bored by how their relationship developed.

Things progressed a bit better after they arrived in England and the we had the secondary characters who I was looking for to see interacting with the protagonists. Some scenes were cute, there is also the attempt to give some emotional depth to the wat both of them have lived their lives so far by allowing them to bear their souls and apparently they fall in love.

I was not convinced of that and along with the lack of path Jonathan revealed and Marjorie's desire for freedom but not wanting to comply with the way things worked nor the advices of those who had more experience in society than her, I was just indifferent to how the story progressed.

I think there a few details that make this a good enough book but the way the plot developed, the character's personality and (in my opinion) their lack of chemistry just made this into a disappointing book, especially after having enjoyed the others so much.

I wouldn't say I'd recommend this book, not for the trope, nor for someone looking for to "discover" the author.

Grade: 5/10

Laura Lee Guhrke - Governess Gone Rogue

Lady Truelove may be London's most famous advice columnist, but James St. Clair, the Earl of Kenyon, knows his wild young sons need a tutor, not a new mother. They need a man tough enough to make his hellions tow the line, and James is determined to find one.
Miss Amanda Leighton, former schoolteacher and governess, knows she has all the qualifications to be a tutor. And while female tutors are unheard of, Amanda isn't about to lose the chance at her dream job because of pesky details like that. If Lord Kenyon insists on hiring a man, then she has only one option.
Jamie isn't sure what to make of his new employee, until he realizes the shocking truth—beneath the ill-fitting suits, his boys' tutor is a woman. An unconventional, outspoken, thoroughly intriguing woman. Despite Amanda's deception, he can't dismiss her when his boys are learning so much. Yet Jamie, too, is learning surprising lessons—about desire, seduction, and passionate second chances.

Comment: This is the third installment in the Dear Lady Truelove series by author Laura Lee Guhrke. This is a series focusing on a group of people who, somehow, is connected to the Lady Truelove column (for people to ask questions and lady truelove replies with wise advice) and how their lives are affected by being a part responsible for that column.

In this story, the heroine Amanda is in need of a position but with her reputation that won't be easy. She visits the paper which has the lady Truelove column not to leave a message for her, but to post the advertisement of her skills and eventually that can help her find work. While in there, she overhears the conversation between Rex (the hero from the previous book) and the earl of Kenyon, bother-in-law to the hero of book #1, regarding the fact the earl's sons have tried to post a question for lady truelove to give advice on how their father can find a wife. 

Amanda discovers what the earl needs the most is actually a tutor for the boys and if only she were a man...

What follows is a game to prove Amanda is as able as any man to teach young boys even if for that she has to resort to extreme measures...

This is one of those historical stories that has plenty of situations and dialogues that any reader can immediately suspect is not very accurate. In fact, I've finished the book with the thought that besides the historical anachronisms, this was also much like a contemporary plot. The only thing characterizing it as historical is precisely the description because in anything else it could't be described as such.

However, I can also say that I couldn't care less because this was also very sweet and romantic and offered such a silly plot that nevertheless I feel happy just by thinking about it. It's actually quite perfect for those times you're feeling down and need a "feel-good" type of book.

That aside, this was a cute story. We have Amanda, a woman who has gotten a reputation after being deceived by a man she thought she was in love with and now has difficulty to be accepted as a governess, especially because those who hire her, like her previous employer, tend to want her to be more than just a governess. Amanda is a bright woman, her father wanted to be as clever and able as any man and she has a lot of academic knowledge but prefers to teach children. Too bad young girls are educated to be ladies and not scientists.

When Amanda finds a way to teach the earl of Kenyon's sons, though, she is ecstatic, even though they have many pranks to play on her. But everything can change if their father discovers what is happening.

I must say what troubled me the most in the story itself was how the romance developed. It's sweet and both characters keep the other's feelings in mind when they interact or when they need to make decisions but from the initial signs of attraction to the HEA there weren't many steps. I guess  a way would have been if they had interacted even more or if there were more scenes with the two of them. The way things are, it feels like they didn't spend enough time together for their feelings to be justified as strongly as they declare.

The adventures portrayed are cute, that's true, even if sometimes I'd have liked a bit more seriousness to be used. The author gave the idea Amanda's past and her worries could be enough to convey some drama but I would also say it's a pity these Avon titles all seem to follow certain rules and page limit...this story could have been even better had the author developed some of the details much more.

(Another unimportant personal opinion, but that I can't ignore... what is it with these cheesy titles...? I can't understand why there is the need to enhance the possible silliness of things with bad titles, along the often bad covers too).

This is a simple book, not to philosophy about, not to process. I liked it because it's entertaining and sweet and when life seems difficult it's always good to know there are books like this to make us feel better.

Grade: 8/10

Mini-Comments

For Clara Deverill, standing in for the real Lady Truelove means dispensing advice on problems she herself has never managed to overcome. There’s nothing for it but to retreat to a tearoom and hope inspiration strikes between scones. It doesn’t—until Clara overhears a rake waxing eloquent on the art of “honorable” jilting. The cad may look like an Adonis, but he’s about to find himself on the wrong side of Lady Truelove.

Rex Galbraith is an heir with no plans to produce a spare. He flirts with the minimum number of eligible young ladies to humor his matchmaking aunt, but Clara is the first to ever catch his roving eye. When he realizes that Clara—as Lady Truelove—has used his advice as newspaper fodder, he’s infuriated. But when he’s forced into a secret alliance with her, he realizes he’s got a much bigger problem—because Clara is upending everything Rex thought he knew about women—and about himself. . . .  

- // -

London.
Detective Sergeant James Henderson’s remarkable gut instincts have put him on a three-year fast track to becoming an inspector. But the advancement of his career has come at a cost. Gay, posh and eager to prove himself in the Metropolitan Police, James has allowed himself few chances for romance.
But when the murder of barrister Maria Curzon-Whyte lands in his lap, all that changes. His investigation leads him to a circle of irresistibly charming men. And though he knows better, James finds himself enticed into their company.
Soon his desire for photographer Ben Morgan challenges him to find a way into the other man’s lifestyle of one-night stands and carefree promiscuity. At the same time his single murder case multiplies into a cruel pattern of violence and depravity.
But as the bodies pile up and shocking secrets come to light, James finds both his tumultuous private life and coveted career threatened by a bitter legacy. 

Comment: Two small comments about books I've read recently but of which I don't have much to say besides the fact I enjoyed them both, each for different reasons.

Bitter Legacy is the first book I read by Dal Maclean and I was convinced to read it by some positive opinions. I think the main protagonist, James, is a very appealing hero and I liked getting to know about his personality and morals by his actions through the book. I was rooting for him and his ability to perform his job as a police inspector. 

The book is centered on murder investigations and police procedures and that part of the story is secretive enough to be compelling but not that it doesn't start to lead a certain path from clues here and there. 

The plot is closely interwoven with James' personal live and the apartment he visits (when the story begins) and starts to live in, and how attracted he get to its owner Ben. These two aspects are very close and although I found the manner in which things mixed very cleverly done by the author, I can't help but being in the camp of those who wish the villain had been a different one and, thus, the end would be different too. 

I don't know if I'll read more books by this author so soon... I liked practically everything here, especially James and the emotional content he enhanced by his thoughts. But the romance aspect is, in my opinion, unfair and unromantic and not satisfactory in the end.

Grade: 7/10

The Trouble With True Love is the second installment in the True Love series by Laura Lee Guhrke. I liked the first one and was curious about the character that would be protagonist of this one.

Clara Deverill is the sort of heroine that in nowadays' historical books isn't much popular. I mean the heroine who wants to get married, who wants an easy life at home. This is no feisty, no rebel, no out of trend (like her sister, the protagonist of the first book) heroine who gets her HEA by being different from the norm. 

However, part of these stories - I've come to realize - is to see how each character learns to balance what they want with the things they don't, so of course part of the fun is to see Clare enjoying the situations where she must have a strong voice and do things she didn't think she could. Same for the hero Rex, although he has a different background to support his actions and reasons for his behavior.

I liked how thee two didn't seem to have things in common but while developing a reluctant friendship at first, learned they could be in love with each other and although the very end is a little too sweet, it was still very good and left me with a smile. I'm looking for to read the next one!

Grade: 7/10

Laura Lee Guhrke - The Truth About Love and Dukes

Dear Lady Truelove . . . I have fallen in love, truly and completely in love, for the first time. The man whom I hold in such passionate regard, however, is not of my station. He is a painter, a brilliant artist. Needless to say, my family would not approve . . .
Henry, Duke of Torquil, wouldn’t be caught reading the wildly popular “Dear Lady Truelove” column, but when its advice causes his mother to embark on a scandalous elopement, an outraged Henry decides the author of this tripe must be stopped before she can ruin any more lives. Though Lady Truelove’s identity is a closely guarded secret, Henry has reason to suspect the publisher of the notorious column, beautiful and provoking Irene Deverill, is also its author.
For Irene, it’s easy to advise others to surrender to passion, but when she meets the Duke of Torquil, she soon learns that passion comes at a price. When one impulsive, spur-of-the-moment kiss pulls her into a scorching affair with Henry, it could destroy her beloved newspaper, her career, and her independence. But in the duke’s arms, surrender is so, so sweet .

Comment: After reading some positive reviews on this book, I have decided to add it to my list. Now that a few months have passed, I finally started the book and I must say I was more positively surprised than what I really expected. I had read another book by the author a long time ago and from what I remember it wasn't as captivating, but this time I think I'll be a fan of this series.

In this story we meet Henry, the duke of Torquil, as he decides to investigate the silly column "dear mrs Truelove" in a newspaper after he recognizes a story very much alike his own mother's, since she wants advice in how to deal with a potential marriage with someone not in her class. Henry and his siblings are obviously nervous and he goes to the newspaper to question the owner and the woman who gave his mother the advice to "just follow" her heart.

Irene Deverill is a feminist who has taken over the family business to make ends meet and to finally give some stability to her family since her father drinks and can't really help. The gossip and the truelove column are the most sought over items in her newspaper and she knows it can provide for them for a long time so she doesn't think about letting it go, much less after an aristocrat demands it so. The problem is that the duke doesn't play fair and Irene and her younger sister see themselves in a complicated situation, all because of the duke. But as close proximity makes them butt heads, it also makes Irene realize there's more about the duke than his status...

Reading the blurb and my own poor description above, one probably imagines this is another silly story about unlikely characters and while I must say it's necessary to suspend belief for a while because some situations can't be that realistic (dukes wouldn't interact like that with common people I'm sure), at the same time the author was able to write scenes where the characters talk and discuss their lives, status, positions and experiences so that the physical relationship isn't only lust or a convenient excuse to make them closer but a consequence of true feelings.

For this alone, I would be able to say this is a successful story. I really liked it that we were able to get to know both Henry and Irene very well, even if they acted a bit stubborn at times. Of course we tend to see things through out contemporary eyes but this is an historical. I admit some things felt like modern people wearing old fashioned clothes but the settings provide a lot of interesting scenes for the characters to interact in and that does help them improve and see the others in different ways. I think this is a thoughtful story with characters who do have a brain and I liked this more seriously discussed type of plot where we see things happen in an obvious way.

Irene and Henry are very different, so I could see some opposites attract here but they are also from different sides of the social hierarchy and I do love to see how people can still find common ground and compromise and love while everything around them wasn't supposed to work.

Henry is a fascinating hero, and we put them in such a status not just because he is rich or because he helps the heroine somehow but because this time he talks to her, he tries to understand her side and he also presents good arguments on why he occupies a certain position and can't simply ignore it. He is actually a very sweet man...

Irene is more vibrant, sure of herself and independent. It took her a bit longer to accept a certain fact about their relationship but I also understand her POV and she isn't as generally described as usually feminists are in these books, she has opinions, she makes herself heard but she isn't so aggressive she dismisses others or their feelings completely. Her falling in love and accepting Henry did feel very sweet as well. I did like their relationship overall.

The secondary characters were interesting, did offer a lot more than just supporting roles. For instance, I liked how Henry's mother was portrayed and how everyone was very rational in their opinions, ideas, so on...

The tone of the story isn't that serious, there are several routine scenes and here and there some comedy feels but overall, I liked how the story was played. Very different from my memories of the other book by the author I've read. As if a mature person wrote this and was able to convey the message...I can't explain well.

I liked this story, there were many elements I enjoyed, there are flaws as well, some parts weren't as well paced, but all things considered, I had a great time reading. I'm certainly going to keep up with this series.

Grade: 8/10