Accidentally In Love by Claudia Dain.
This is book 1.5 in the More Courtesan Chronicles.
Miss Emeline Harlow has been in love with Kit Culley all of her life. She knows without a doubt that he is the man she will marry. Unfortunately, he sees her as a sister having grown up together. That is until they make the journey to London and Kit realizes that Emeline is NOT just like a sister.
This was a very quick, enjoyable read. As with the other books in the series, we see an appearance by Sophia Dalby. If you love the world of the Courtesan Chronicles, you need to pick this up!
You can pick this book up at the following retailers:
Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Thanks go out to Aspendawn Books via NetGalley for a copy of the book in exchange of an honest review.
The Heart of a Duke by Samantha Grace, Christi Caldwell, Robin Delany, Olivia Kelly, and Aileen Fish.
This anthology is different from other anthologies I have read. The author's have worked together to tie the characters and storyline throughout each of the stories.
Nadya Pankova is resentful of the privileged girls that come to have their fortune told at the gypsy camp. She sells them a cheap necklace and tells them that if they wear it, they will win the heart of a duke.
Since Eleanore Barnaby is betrothed to a duke already, the friends decide that she should be the first to wear the necklace. Unfortunately, Eleanore is not happy about her betrothal. Her parents arranged the marriage when she was just a small child. Her betrothed never spends any time with her and is always pawning her off on his cousin.
Eleanore decides to run away to her grandfather in hopes of not having to go through with the wedding. Will love follow her on the adventure?
The necklace is soon passed to Valera Bell. She has her sites on landing a Duke, but will someone she has known forever show her that having a duke is not everything?
Aldora Adamson is next in line and must marry to save her family from ruin. Aldora sets her eyes on the perfect man, the Marquess of St. James. He is wealthy, had a commitment for the less fortunate and he his family had its own skeletons in the closet. Unfortunately, it's not the Marquess that makes her heart beat faster it is his notorious brother. Will Aldora continue to protect her family, or will she follow her heart?
Alison Griffith doesn't believe in the magic of the necklace, but is willing to do anything for the man she wants as her husband. Can she convience scientist, Jonathan Foster, that she will make him a wonderful partner in all his scientific endeavors?
Charlotte Griffith has dreamed of her duke since the girls found the necklace. As each one of the girls found true love with someone other than a duke, Charlotte still had a picture of her husband in her mind. He looked just like the Duke of Langley. Unfortunately, Charlotte overhears a conversation that the duke has with a friend and decided that he is not he person for her. She wants to marry for love and the duke will never love her. So when Langley proposes marriage to her, Charlotte turns him down. She does, however, agree to help him find his future wife. But is Langley falling for Charlotte as he spends more and more time with her?
Much Ado About Dutton by Claudia Dain.
It is part of the More Courtesan Chronicles series which comes after the Courtesan Chronicles series.
Two years ago, Lord Dutton made it clear to widow Anne Warren that he wanted her. Unfortunately, Dutton only decided this after learning that Anne's mother had been a courtesan and she made it clear that she didn't want anything to do with him and soon marries a proper gentleman. Dutton drowns his sorrows in a liquor bottle.
Two years have passed and Dutton is sober and Anne is a widow again. Dutton is determined to get Anne into his bed where Anne is now willing to be, but on her terms. Will they be able to agree to the terms of their relationship?
After getting any book from NetGalley, I go to the author page to see if it is a part of a series. After seeing how closely related these books were, I made my way through the series to get ready for this book. Some books in a series can be read on their own without any confusion of the story line. I don't believe that this is case with this series. The whole series (except this one which jumps ahead 2 yrs.) takes place in about 4 weeks of time. There are so many different characters in the series, that had I not read all of the previous books, I would have been thoroughly confused (even having read them all, it was at times confusing to keep all the characters straight in my head).
Having said all of that, I have thoroughly enjoyed this series and this particular story. The series follows Lady Dalby (Sophia), a former courtesan, who plays matchmaker throughout the course of the books. Most of the characters show up throughout the whole series, so we are able to see glimpses of their lives too.
We are introduced to Lord Dutton and Anne Warren in the first book (The Courtesan's Daughter) and their story carries on throughout the rest of the series coming to a conclusion with this one. We know from reading the other books that Anne is attracted to Dutton, but needs to make a good marriage because of her background. After her husband dies, she knows that she can now go to Dutton on an even playing field. She is no longer the daughter of a courtesan, but Lady Staverton. Anne turns the tables on Dutton and makes him dance to her tune.
Thank goodness this series is continuing. The next book in the series is Taming Miss Grey which is about Sophia's niece. There is a scene in Much Ado About Dutton that leads us to the stories of the Ardenzy twins. You can find there stories HERE on Amazon (only $0.99). I'll be reading those tonight!
I've given this story a four out of five only for the fact that is was really hard to keep everyone straight in my mind. I LOVE this series, but it would have been a bit more enjoyable had I not had to keep so many characters straight in my head!
You can purchase this book at Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
Thanks go out to NetGalley and Aspendawn Books for a copy of the book in exchange of an honest review.
