REGENCY ROMANCE REVIEWS

Hi everyone! I hope you are all well and having an amazing day. Today will be the fourth post in a new series on my blog called Regency Romance Reviews (or RRR for short!). You may have seen my Recent Reads series where I wrap up all of reads, but I wanted to start doing a separate series where I just wrap up my historical romances. That’s what this is for!

The Hunter

A scandalous proposal.

As one of London’t most elite hunters, Christopher Argent never misses his mark and always gets his man. But when his latest target turns out to be a woman—the popular, and stunningly beautiful, actress Millie LeCour—it turns his whole world upside-down. Overwhelmed by the heat that simmers between them, Christopher can’t complete his mission. On the contrary, he’ll do anything to save Millie’s life—even if it means risking his own…

A dangerous passion…

When she learns what Christopher was hired to do, Millie is torn between the fear in her heart and the fire in her soul. Putting herself in this dangerous man’s arms may be her only path to safety—but giving in to her desire may be the deadliest mistake she’s ever made. With both of their lives in jeopardy, Millie and Christopher must learn to trust the real feelings they’re hiding—to find the true love they’re looking for..

Unfortunately, I dnf’d this. I hardly ever dnf books (I think this might be my 5th?) but unfortunately the dynamics just weren’t for me. Although I really loved the first book in the series, The Highwayman, this was too different compared to the first book so I just didn’t get on with it. I really liked the prologue though and I thought I was going to absolutely love this book but once I got 100 pages in and realised I still had another 360 to go I just really didn’t want to put myself through it! The way the characters met, and the nature of their relationship just wasn’t for me. I could understand how someone might like this book but I definitely prefer a slow burn, more emotionally based romance and this was the complete opposite in my opinion. It didn’t help that by the time I DNF’d I just felt no attraction to either character and I also don’t really like romances where there are already children (personal preference, don’t hate me!) 

The Devil in Winter

Easily the shyest Wallflower, Evangeline Jenner stands to become the wealthiest, once her inheritance comes due. Because she must first escape the clutches of her unscrupulous relatives, Evie has approached the rake Viscount St. Vincent with a most outrageous proposition: marriage!

Sebastian’s reputation is so dangerous that thirty seconds alone with him will ruin any maiden’s good name. Still, this bewitching chit appeared, unchaperoned, on his doorstep to offer her hand. Certainly an aristocrat with a fine eye for beauty could do far worse.

But Evie’s proposal comes with a condition: no lovemaking after their wedding night. She will never become just another of the dashing libertine’s callously discarded broken hearts—which means Sebastian will simply have to work harder at his seductions… or perhaps surrender his own heart for the very first time in the name of true love.

I have always seen such, such good reviews of this regency romance and because I’m a bit dubious of any romances written in he early 2000s I’ve always left it. Coupled with the fact that I read one of Lisa Kleypas’ other books last year and didn’t really enjoy it, I just thought this one wouldn’t be for me. Well I decided to pick it up on a whim, and GUYS. I cannot tell you how much I loved this book. As soon as I finished it I wanted to start all over again from the beginning. I think it might now be my all time favourite regency romance, and a definite 5 star read. There was so, so much to love about this book. First of all, I loved Evie, our protagonist. She is worth so so much more than she thnks and she goes on an amazing journey throughout this book. She is so kind and thoughtful and I loved reading about her. 

The highlight of this book for me was Sebastian. Oh my god, what a guy!! I loved him to pieces. He was so attentive and caring towards Evie right from the start, even though he didn’t want to admit it. It’s the little details in books that absolutely get me, and I just loved the tiny little things he did that made her feel more comfortable. I loved how he approached her lack of self confidence and I thought there were some really beautiful discussions between the two of them around that issue. He also had so much going on himself, and some of the decisions he made were so full of love I couldn’t help but absolutely adore him. He is also such a romantic, even if he didn’t want to admit it, and I cried like three times towards the end, because I became so invested in the characters and their lives. This book also had such good humour in it and the mystery element really kept the plot moving too. There were so many iconic tropes in this book that I absolutely love like marriage of convenience and enemies to lovers (as well as others that will spoil it)  I absolutely need to go back and read the rest in the series! I cannot express how much I love this book and it’s no surprise given the reviews. I would definitely suggest you check it out!

It Happened One Autumn

It happened at the ball…

Where beautiful but bold Lillian Bowman quickly learned that her independent American ways weren’t entirely “the thing.” And the most disapproving of all was insufferable, snobbish, and impossible Marcus, Lord Westcliff, London’s most eligible aristocrat.

It happened in the garden…

When Marcus shockingly—and dangerously—swept her into his arms. Lillian was overcome with a consuming passion for a man she didn’t even like. Time stood still; it was as if no one else existed… thank goodness they weren’t caught very nearly in the act!

It happened one autumn…

Marcus was a man in charge of his own emotions, a bedrock of stability. But with Lillian, every touch was exquisite torture, every kiss an enticement for more. Yet how could he consider taking a woman so blatantly unsuitable… as his bride?

After absolutely loving Devil in Winter I decided to work my way through the Wallflowers series in what is possibly the most confusing order. But anyway! While it didn’t compare to how much I loved Devil in Winter, I still had a lot of fun with it. I really liked the unique style of enemies to lovers this book had – it was more frustration rather than hate and I thought that was an interesting difference to other books in this genre. I also really liked how the relationship developed, as well as the humorous scenes in the book too. It made me like all the girls in the series much more and made me believe their friendship much more too.I’m also glad that I read this one as it helped me with context for the beginning of Devil in Winter! (like I said, the most confusing order ever).

I really hope you liked this week’s post, and as I’m still finding my way around the genre, if you could give me any recs based on my higher-rated books on this list, I would really appreciate it!

Happy reading,
Lucy