The trouble with Dukes - Grace Burrowes

The gossips whisper that the new Duke of Murdoch is a brute, a murderer, and even worse—a Scot. They say he should never be trusted alone with a woman. But Megan Windham sees in Hamish something different, someone different.

No one was fiercer at war than Hamish MacHugh, though now the soldier faces a whole new battlefield: a London Season. To make his sisters happy, he'll take on any challenge—even letting their friend Miss Windham teach him to waltz. Megan isn't the least bit intimidated by his dark reputation, but Hamish senses that she's fighting battles of her own. For her, he'll become the warrior once more, and for her, he might just lose his heart. 

My thoughts:

More Windhams! Oh there are a lot of them, but this time it's time for the cousins to find love.

Megan, well the different thing about her is that she wears glasses, and that does set her apart. But she has a suitor *coughs asshat*. But she is pushing him away, and we learn why *coughs he is an asshat*.

Hamish was a soldier, and one with a pretty rough reputation. Then he inherited a title, and he is still rough around the edges, and a Scot to boot.

They meet, they like each other. They talk they flirt, but wait, she is almost engaged to that other guy *asshat*. There lies the dilemma, oh and that Hamish is a fool who is all, but I am bad for you, I got a rep. Silly man *smacks him over the head* She loves ya.

Conclusion:
Cute. And it was fun to meet the family again.

Cover
Cute

Mass Market Paperback, 368 pages
Published December 20th 2016 by Forever
Windham Brides #1, Windham #9
Historical romance
Edelweiss

Review: Lady Eve's Indiscretion - Grace Burrowes

Lady Eve's Got The Perfect Plan

Pretty, petite Evie Windham has been more indiscreet than her parents, the Duke and Duchess of Moreland, suspect. Fearing that a wedding night would reveal her past, she's running out of excuses to dodge adoring swains. Lucas Denning, the newly titled Marquis of Deene, has reason of his own for avoiding marriage. So Evie and Deene strike a deal, each agreeing to be the other's decoy. At this rate, matrimony could be avoided indefinitely...until the two are caught in a steamy kiss that no one was supposed to see.

My thoughts:

Almost all the Windham siblings have found love now. Left are Eve and Jenny. Eve does not want to marry, cos of a secret in her past. This time the secret was good as back then being ruined is not exactly a good thing.

Eve was sweet, she does want more from life, but how to get it? She leaves disappointed suitors in her wake. This goes on from season to season. But we all know she will fall eventually and in comes Lucas, their neighbor. Sure they fight, but something is there. But she does not want marriage and he really needs an heir.

The romance plot and these falling in love is only a part of the book. There is also how Lucas wants to take care of his niece as he promised his sister but the father does not want to let go. And Lucas trying to make some money from his estates. More secrets lie in wait in this book.

Conclusion:

As always the focus is still on Eve and Lucas. It's their book, their love story. Their drama. It's truly about them even with all the other things going on.

Cover

meh

Series: The Duke's Daughters #4, Windham #7
Genre: Historical romance
Pages: 416
Published: Feb 5th 2013 by Sourcebooks Casablanca
Source: For review

Review: Lady Louisa's Christmas Knight - Grace Burrowes

No one would ever guess that Lady Louisa, the most reserved of the Duke of Moreland's daughters, had published a book of racy poems under a pseydonym on a dare. Before she can buy and destroy all of the copies, a dastardly fortune hunter seeks to compromise her reputation by revealing her secret identity at a holiday ball.

Before she can be publicly ruined, close family friend Sir Joseph Carrington saves the day by offering to marry Louisa. As he recites poetry to her, waltzes with her by starlight, and showers her with lovely kisses, they both begin to discover that their match may be the best Christmas gift either has ever received...

My thoughts:

Lady Louisa is finally getting her man, not that she was looking though. All the sisters seem to be happy with what they have at the moment. Let's start.

There are secrets, but to be honest, the secrets in this series are all pretty lame. Though I did like her secret, that made sense with her choices. We learn it almost at once too. Joseph's secret, oh that was the lame one, I did not know why he even bothered with that one. But then this is not about secrets. For me these books are about romance.

Louisa needs a knight in shining armor and her widowed neighbor Sir Joseph comes to the rescue. They are already acquainted, but here they learn to know each other better, and fall in love.

The story worked (even if his secret was lame but he is a man so they are all silly ;). The love grows and I could see it. Sure it all takes place during a short period of time but still it works. And as always the book is light and so easy to read that the pages just fly by. You have to read on.

And yes it does work as a stand alone too.

Conclusion:

A nice historical romance

Series:  (The Duke's Daughters, #3) (Windham #6)
Genre: Historical romance
Pages: 384
Published: October 1st 2012 by Sourcebooks Casablanca
Source: For review

Lady Maggie's Secret Scandal - Grace Burrowes

Maggie Windham, oldest of the Windham sisters and a by-blow from His Grace’s pre-marital wild oats, finds herself in desperate needs of an investigator to help her retrieve a missing reticule. Benjamin Hazlit knows the Windham family secrets, and can be trusted to keep them to himself, so Maggie turns to Benjamin, though it means ignoring his too-broad shoulders, his too-knowing smile… and his too-skilled kisses. 

As Benjamin starts the search for Maggie’s missing purse, he realizes two things: First, whatever was in that purse, its loss has Maggie not just rattled, but terrified. Second, Benjamin will go to any lengths to see Maggie’s peace of mind restored, even if it means he must keep himself in very close proximity to the shy, secretive lady who says she wants nothing to do with him.

Series: Windham #5, The Duke's daughter's #2, Genre: Historical romance, Pages: 384, Published: May 1st 2012 by Sourcebooks Casablanca, Source: For review

My thoughts:

Burrowes books are always so easy to read, they just flows, even when you get annoyed at the characters ;) But then again it would not be that easy to get me to marry you either if I just met you.

Maggie is the bastard daughter, still she is adopted and loved. Oh and she is 30, oh yes 30, I loved that. She is firmly in the shelf and she does not care cos she wants her independence. And with a mother who was a courtesan *coughs whore* I do get why she wants her freedom. I like an author that takes a chance with an older heroine.

Benjamin is someone we have seen around in previous books, he finds missing things, he digs up dirt on people. Not your usual kind of hero and of course I like him, because he is nice. So very nice and kind. He wants to protect Maggie and as in previous books he is the one who tries to make her see that  they would be good together. I always love a hero who fights for that which he believes in.

Sure, one thing was silly but I got it, it was there to bring the drama forwards. Maggie is kind and loving and scared. That is why the big scandal is a secret. But with a talk she could have saved herself from much grief. Even I knew that something we found out could not be. And I did not really see what the scandal was about either. She is a walking scandal herself. Still was the whole deal does it brings the drama and the fear that everything will go downhill from now. That is exactly what kept me reading. I wanted to know if everything would work out and if they would live happily ever after (which they always do but a good authors makes me fear it none the less. )

Conclusion:

I can't say what made it so, but this was my favorite Grace Burrowes book to date. Light, exciting and with a happy ending that will make you smile.

Cover:

Ok

Review: Lady Sophie's Christmas Wish - Grace Burrowes

Series: The Duke's Daughters #1, Windham #4
Genre: Historical romance
Pages: 384
Published: October 1, 2011
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Source: For review

All she wants is peace and anonymity...

Lady Sophie Windham has maneuvered a few days to herself at the ducal mansion in London before she must join her family for Christmas in Kent. Suddenly trapped by a London snowstorm, she finds herself with an abandoned baby and only the assistance of a kind, handsome stranger standing between her and complete disaster.

But Sophie's holiday is about to heat up...

With his estate in ruins, Vim Charpentier sees little to feel festive about this Christmas. His growing attraction for Sophie Windham is the only thing that warms his spirits-but when Sophie's brothers whisk her away, Vim's most painful holiday memories are reawakened.

It seems Sophie's been keeping secrets, and now it will take much more than a mistletoe kiss to make her deepest wishes come true...

My thoughts:

In this new series from Burrowes it is time for the Windham sisters to find love and we start with Sophie.

This book is different from the 3 about the brothers. This one is slower, not in a bad way, but the other books had their big secret and a bit of drama connected to that. While this one had a more peaceful pace and even if there was passion it was not as big. I will get to the reason of this all soon enough.

Sophie has been out for a long time, but she has yet to marry. She is the sensible daughter who takes in strays cats and limp horses. She is quiet and nice and she is all alone in a big house with a baby that was left behind. In comes our hero who she meets and who helps her. This book is also as much about the baby as it is about these two. Vim stays to help, he a good man, nice, helpful and falling for a woman who he does not know is a Duke's daughter. That is where the tiny drama comes in, mostly because of a misunderstanding. 

I liked how they grew closer together thanks to the baby. They cared for him together and fell in love (and lust). There is where the stillness of this book comes in, for a long time it is just the two of them and baby Kit. Then when it changes the tone of the book changes to a bit, the stillness is not as still, but there is still a calm as forces try to get them together.

Conclusion:

A nice Christmas tale about love and family.

Cover
Ok

Review: The Virtuoso - Grace Burrowes

The series: The Duke's Obsession #3

Genre: Historical romance

Pages: 416

Published: Nov 1, 2011

Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca

Source: For review

The highly praised trilogy of Regency romances by award-winning author Grace Burrowes concludes with gifted pianist Valentine Windham, youngest son of the Duke of Moreland. Val retreats to the country after an injury robs him of his musical ability, only to learn from impoverished widow Ellen Markham that he can be loved even when his music falls silent.

My thoughts;

Ever since I read about Val in book 1 I wanted to read his book, he just felt so different than other heroes. He just sat by his piano all day long and played. He sounded so sweet.

In this one he wins an estate and goes to fix it up, and to rest since his hand is red and swollen (poor Val, all he wants to do is play). There he meets his heroine, Ellen Markham, a young widow, a  nice soul who lives all alone in the woods. And she has got a secret, just like the 2 heroines before her. She does sit on her secret for quite some time, but then we get a few clues along the way what she is hiding. And you always think it is so much worse than it really is. Also, it is not Val is perfect either, because he keeps a secret too, he does not tell her that he is the son of a Duke. And she does tell him that she has a secret.

But mostly this book is about these two meeting and falling in love (lust first ;), they are nice to each other and gets along splendidly. He also works on getting his manor in order, and someone is sabotaging.  There is also that question, why is someone doing it? And of course the secret of what Ellen is hiding. It brings a bit of thrill to this romance and it is that which keep you going, because you just need to know what is going on, even when you have figured it out. 

And like the two other books she has written in this series there is always that romantic shimmer over it all, and the hero is the one who fights. And I am a sucker for a hero who fights for his love and is the one who wants to put things right and win her hand.

Conclusion:

A sweet romance with a hero you will fall for at once.

Cover:

Hm...ok