#tracy sumner

This year I've been reading more novellas and/or novelettes by new authors and also by old faves.

REVIEW

The Duchess Society Collection: Books 1-3:

Steamy Historical Romance

By Tracy Sumner

~ Loved all three and believe you will, too ~ Below a few snippets from my reviews of the books ~

The Brazen Bluestocking

Delightful from Beginning to end! Loved SO much about this story and can’t wait to read it again.

The Scandalous Vixen: Smiling as I think about this book. Why? Because the story made me happy. Opposites on the social spectrum but more aligned than they should be, this couple was a treat to get to know and watch fall in love.

The Wicked Wallflower

Slipping back into this series was smooth and easy and oh so much fun!

5 Stars ~ I will gladly read anything this author writes!

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Publisher Description

“There are two things I need to absolutely adore a historical romance. Gorgeous writing and romantic tension that is so intense I’m basically a stick of melting butter. With quick pacing, perfectly steamy scenes, and a cast of loveable side characters, I need the next Duchess Society book in hand, well, yesterday!” ~ Charlie Lane, Regency romance author The Brazen Bluestocking The start of the wildly popular Duchess Society! A duchess, a broken engagement, an attempted murder, a kidnapping, and a cat. And best of all, a delicious amount of steam and a happy ending! Bad boy hero: He’s ruthless and untouchable, but she’s the one temptation he can’t resist. The Scandalous Vixen A wicked wager, a fake engagement, a duke with nothing to lose, and a woman determined never to belong to any man. Add forbidden passion, razor-sharp banter, and a delicious amount of steam—and prepare to melt.

Tropes you’ll love: Enemies to Lovers, Second Chance, Fake Engagement, Reunion Romance, Ruthless Duke, Strong, Independent Heroine, Scorching Chemistry, He Falls First The Wicked Wallflower **Maybe the most popular hero in the series? Meet Xander Macauley...***

A Top Pick on Thirteen Best of Historical Romance Lists!

Tropes you’ll love: Wallflower Heroine, Brother’s Best Friend, Rookery Rogue, Forbidden Desire, Rescue Romance, Class Divide, Scorching Chemistry

The Duchess Society is a circle of self-made rogues, reluctant aristocrats, and men forged in the shadows — and the women bold enough to challenge them. These are class-crossing romances where gambling kings fall for dukes’ sisters, bluestockings refuse obedience, and desire simmers for years before finally catching fire.

With wicked banter, slow-burn tension, found family, and deeply satisfying happily-ever-afters, this series delivers Regency romance with teeth. Expect scandal, heat, and heroines who won’t be tamed.

The Duchess Society Series The Brazen Bluestocking The Scandalous Vixen The Wicked Wallflower One Wedding and an Earl Two Scandals and a Scot Three Sins and a Scoundrel

REVIEW

Much Ado About April by Tracy Sumner

The Rake Review: Season 2 #4 (April)

~ The Rake Review put the spotlight on The Earl of M. him  with the colorful derogatory  nicknames of Pickled Peer and Tipsy T. leaving no doubt who was being referred to but…could he be more than he appears to be when out and about? ~

What I liked

* Percival Everard Trentham, Earl of Merevale “Ever”: second son, Intelligence Officer, recently elevated to earl after the death of hir despicable older brother, mid-thirties, retirement ready, loves his home, ready to settle down with someone he loves

* Lady Isabella Anstruther Colbrook “Isa”: intelligent, strong willed, curious, intrepid, wants more than “just marriage, bored after giving up her job with The Brazen Belle, protective, proactive, knows what she wants, attracted to Everard and not worried about his being older

* Being reminded of Tristan, Duke of Mercer and his love story with Camlla (Chasing the Duke) and Weston Whitaker, her brother-in-law by marriage, and his love story with her sister Penny (Mistletoe & Christmas Kisses)

* Brick and Lottie: He is Ever’s bodyguard, protector and enforcer and she is April’s maid – could a romance be blooming?

* The way Isa and Ever handled being set upon by thieves while in a carriage on evening

* The modiste-cum-doctor met after the carriage incident and thinking that she would make an admirable person to base a book upon

* The age gap being believale for me since it is the same as mine with my husband

* That I felt that Ever and Isa were well matched, would make great partners in and out of the bedroom, and that I could easily see them living a happy life together as long as they lived.

What I didn’t like: * Thinking about the expectations for women in society and then remembering that in the late sixties I was deterred from studying medicine due to my gender and realizing that times change but not completely

* Having to say goodbye to Isa and Ever – would love to have friends like the two of them

Did I like this book?  Yes

Would I read more by this author? Definitely

Thank you to the author for the ARC – This is my honest review.

5 Stars

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REVIEW

A Wicked Little Christmas by Tracy Sumner

~ Excellent holiday stories by one of my favorite authors ~ Loved every one of these stories and all the rest in the series ~ Full Reviews can be found under their individual titles ~

THE ICE DUCHESS: Swept into the past, I fell in love with Georgiana and Dexter. These two were definitely soul mates, if such exist! They may have had a rough patch for a while but thankfully things came right for them in the end!

THE GOVERNESS GAMBLE: Excellent story – couldn’t put it down – This novella length story started with a great first act and continued to engage me to the last page. Loved both main characters and young Francine!

THE DARING DEBUTANTE: I read this book as part of an anthology and loved it then and love it still. It was a great addition to the The Duchess Society series. Nigel Streeter and Arabella Macauley have known each other since childhood. Arabella is a bit like her mother in that she knows what she wants, is willing to go after it, and she wants Nigel. Fun story that made me smile. Looking forward to rereading it again soon.

Thank you to the author and BookSirens for the ARC – This is my honest review.

5 Stars

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REVIEW

The Lyon Who Desired Me by Tracy Sumner

A Lyon’s Den Connected World

~ A chance meeting in a book store years ago has never left Louisa’s mind ~ The kind young man with blue eyes is the one she wants and perhaps he is the one she will have for her husband ~ Loved this story! ~

What I liked: * Lady Louisa: one of four sisters, interested in chemistry and concocting explosives, impetuous, daring, forthright, knows what she wants and goes after it, stands up for her rights,

* Dominic: second son, dyslexic, difficulties with his father and at school, good with numbers, in business with his brother, drawn to Louisa, caring, generous, romantic

* Mrs. Bessie Dove-Lyon: matchmaker, always veiled, widow, owns the Lyon’s Den gambling hall

* That Louisa stuns Mrs. Dove-Lyon when she requests Dominic be added to her potential suitors

* Griff: Dominic’s older titled brother, happily married with a young son, wise, supportive, a good man

* The instant chemistry between Louisa and Dominic and that I believe they are good for and perfect for one another

* Some of the steamy scenes

* That society and perhaps some family members underestimated and were unable to see the talented people Louis and Dominic were BUT they saw one another clearly

* All of it really except…

What I didn’t like: * Thinking about what Louisa would have had to put up with if she had not married Dominic

Did I like this book? Yes

Would I read more by this author? Yes

Thank you to the author, NetGalley and Dragonblade for the ARC – This is my honest review.

5 Stars

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REVIEW

True Fate by Tracy Sumner

True Men #1 [novella]

Smiles for miles as I think about this delightful second chance romance that swept me up and carried me through to the end on an emotional ride that had me watching a perfect reconnection between two high school sweethearts that were parted too soon. I loved Justin and Lainey and was so happy they found their way back to one another again.

What I liked: * Lainey Prescott: psychologist, a bit burned out, returned to upgrade her family home, single, has never forgotten Justin True – her high school boyfriend that was possibly her soul mate

* Justin True: artist, architect, art gallery owner, wealthy, loving brother, debating his future and might be ready for a change, never forgot Lainey from HS and wonders if she was his soul mate

* The meeting of Justin and Lainey when both are back in Promise, NC at the same and run into one another thirteen years after they parted

* The chemistry between the main characters

* The mature honest communication between Lainey and Justin in and out of the bedroom

* Meeting Fontana Quinn who will be a lead character in True Dreams, second book in this series

* Learning the names and professions of the True Men who will star in the rest of the books in this series

* Thinking about “the ones that got away” though mine were in the 70’s and not the 90’s ;)

* Reading a contemporary romance by this author that I’ve only read historical romance from before

* The playlist songs although I couldn’t listen and read as I was swept into the music

* All of it really except…

What I didn’t like:

* Thinking about the thirteen years the couple was apart although the two might not have made it as a couple if they had stayed together right out of HS.

* Having to wait for the next book

Did I like this book? Yes

Would I read more in this series? Yes

Thank you to the author and Book Sirens for the ARC – This is my honest review.

5 Stars

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REVIEW

Kiss the Duke Goodbye by Tracy Sumner

The Troublesome Trio #3

Delightful conclusion to a trio of lovely novellas that see three brothers ~ The Troublesome Trio ~ happily married for love rather than according to society’s expectations. So happy Knox & Clari found their HEA!

What I liked:

* Knoxville DeWitt, the Duke of Herschel: oldest brother, twin, protective, responsible, left with dukedom in need of cash, loves his siblings and their wives, smitten with Clari

* Clarissa “Clari” Marlowe: milliner, Viscount’s by-blow, bright, excellent financial abilities, forthright, says what she means, willing to fight for what she wants and she wants Knox

* The entrance to a slow romantic dance that suddenly heated up in Clari’s millinery shop and seeing just how compatible the couple will be in and out of the bedroom

* The way Clari is strong enough to tease Knox, stand up for herself, and plays her father

* The maturity of both main characters and being able to see them happy together

* Knox’s trying to figure out how to fulfill his responsibilities while not settling for a loveless marriage

* The glimpse of how the brothers and their wives are doing

* The epilogue

* Thinking about what this favorite author might publish next

What I didn’t like: * Who and what I was meant not to like

* Thinking about the way Clarissa’s father treated her and her mother

Did I like this book? Yes

Would I read more by this author? Definitely

Thank you to BookSirens and the author for the ARC – This is my honest review.

5 Stars

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REVIEW

Tall, Dark and December by Tracy Sumner

The Rake Review #12

Big smiles ~ I loved this story ~ I knew that I would ~ Every book I’ve read by this author has allowed me to immerse myself in delightfully and vicariously enjoy the romance that always leads to a satisfying ending.

What I liked: * Weston Whittaker: American, engineer, mathematician, eidetic memory, difficult backstory, Tristan’s half-brother, needs financial investors, rather taken with his etiquette teacher

* Lady Penelope Anstruther-Colbrook “Penny”: older sister, etiquette instructor, responsible, beautiful, wears glasses, living down a scandal, a bit of a free spirit, rather taken with Weston

* That I could see Penny and West happy together both in the bedroom and in all other areas of their lives

* The open honest mature communication between Penny and West

* Isabella: Penny’s younger sister, does beautiful embroidery, hurt by her understanding of Penny’s scandal, has a secret, hope she gets a book of her own

* The growing friendship and brotherly relationship between Weston and Tristan

* That I honestly liked both main characters and would love to have them as friends

* Tristan Tierney, Duke of Mercer: loved remembering his meeting and marriage of Camille in Chasing the Duke – plan to reread it immediately

* Brixworth: Tristan’s majordomo and an intriguing person

* Deke: employed by Weston – would like to know more about him

* Weston’s names for his cat and dog – based on political figures

* All of it really except…

What I didn’t like: * Thinking about how difficult Weston’s life was after his mother died

* Thinking about the difficulties Penelope and Isabella had to deal with after they lost their parents

* Not knowing who has been writing the Rake Review and wondering if there will be a book in the future that will reveal her story

Did I like this book? Yes

Would I read more by this author? Definitely!

Thank you to the author for the ARC – This is my honest review.

5 Stars

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