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How I Met My Countess by Elizabeth Boyle

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Welcome to Sugarbeat’s Books – The Home of the Romance Novel!

sugarbeat's books romance novels romance book reviewsWelcome also to Series Sunday! This is the day of the week that I get the pleasure of talking about my favorite thing – books in series. I haven’t done this series in a while – too busy, but I have been reading books in series, so maybe it is time to get caught up! Today I’m going to continue where I left off with Elizabeth Boyle’s series.

I love the books that Ms. Boyle writes. She has me reading furiously to get to the next part, she has me laughing, and usually she has me crying at some point in the story. I hope you enjoy hearing about her books that I’ve read!

 

 

elizabeboyleromaHow I met My Countess by Elizabeth Boyle

ISBN: 978-0-06-178349-4

Publisher – Avon Historical Romances

Release – 2010

Source – I purchased this book to read and review

 

Blurb:

The Earl of Clifton intended one day to find the perfect countess…

…until he met Lucy. The improper and impetuous daughter of an infamous spy, Lucy Ellyson saved Clifton’s life and taught him everything he needed to know about serving his country in the dangerous shoals of the war torn Continent… even how to fall in love. He vowed he would come back to her, he would make her his unconventional and unlikely countess, but the war and duty kept them apart for too long and when he finally returned, she was gone.

Lucy’s father had told her that the Earl of Clifton would never return for her, warned her that she would never find a place in a society that would scorn her birth. And he was right. For when Clifton returns, it isn’t to reconquer her heart, but merely to ask for her help in finding an elusive dowager, never realizing that the Marchioness of Standon — the woman who holds the keys to his family fortune — is none other than Lucy herself. It doesn’t take Clifton long to realize that his greatest mission yet may be to face the tragic secrets of their past and rediscover the passionate love that once ignited them both…

How I met my Countess is the next story in the Bachelor Chronicles by Elizabeth Boyle.  I believe it is considered to be book 6 of The Bachelor Chronicles

 

Our story starts years earlier with the training of the Earl of Clifton. Clifton sees himself as a spy for England, but before he can be sent out into the field, he is sent for training to the Ellyson household.  Although the master spy trainer is the master of the house, Lucy and her sister play important roles in the training of the young men that England depends on, in their fight with the French.  Lucy has had contact with many young men who have been trained by her father, this is the first time she has fallen in love with one of them.

 

The Earl of Clifton is determined to be a spy for England.  He is titled, he is bright and he is absolutely unprepared to deal with Lucy.  She is different than any other woman of his experience.  But he must leave her to do his duty.  He promises to come back for her.

 

Many years later, when investigating a woman who seems to be responsible for an inheritance, he discovers Lucy again.  Although he searched for her several years ago, he never imagined that she would be the Marchioness of Standon that he is searching for.  Saddened by the fact that Lucy apparently married not long after he left, he is determined to win his Lucy back.

 

This is another story by Ms. Boyle that I have absolutely loved!  She seems to have a way about her storytelling that draws the reader in.  Readers cheer for the good guys and boo for the bad guys.  Lucy is a woman who needs a happily ever after.  She’s strong and she has been through a lot, and this story definitely has the reader jumping up and down and cheering by the end.  An unconventional storyline, but a wonderful one that stays with the reader long after the story is back on the shelf.

 

There are many great books in this series.  Please pick up the whole series and make your way through.  Let me know if you enjoy this series as much as I have.

How I Met My Countess is available at Amazon

Memoirs of a Scandalous Red Dress by

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Welcome to Sugarbeat’s Books – The Home of the Romance Novel

sugarbeat's books romance novels romance book reviewsWelcome also to Series Sunday!

This is the day that we get to talk about a book that was written in series.  If you have been following along, you will know that we are wandering our way through Elizabeth Boyle’s Bachelor Chronicles.  I’m not sure if I have a favorite book, but I certainly loved this one!  As I’ve mentioned before, once I’ve finished the series, I’ll be giving away a bunch of books!  Keep your eyes open for the giveaway in a few weeks.

 

Memoirs of a Scandalous Red Dress by Elizabeth Boyle
ISBN: 978-0-06-137324-4
Release: April 29, 2009
Publisher: Avon Historicals
Source: I purchased this book to read and review

sugarbeat's books romance books romance novel reviews historical contemporary eroticaWhat if all you have are the memories of a pirate…
…and the scandalous red dress that nearly brought you to ruin? Remembrances of the kisses he stole? Or his seductive, rakish smile as he charmed his way into your bed, stole your innocence and your heart? To proper and respectable Philippa, Lady Gossett such memories are best locked away. At least so she thought until a stranger arrives on her doorstep and offers her a chance to tempt fate once again… to tempt Dash back into her life and quite possibly into her bed…
But the man Pippin loved all those years ago, and the man she discovers are hardly the same. Captain Thomas Dashwell has a score to settle with the now widowed Lady Gossett, the vision in red who has haunted his life for so long—ever since that fateful night when she betrayed him and married another. She’s the one woman he’s vowed to hate until the end of his days… and the one woman he can never forget…

I LOVED THIS BOOK!! Just thought I’d get this off my chest right up front!

Memoirs of a Scandalous Red Dress is another book in the Bachelor Chronicles series that Elizabeth Boyle has written, and I’m just catching up with now! This book tells Philippa’s story. We have had bits and pieces of Philippa’s story in various other books, but this one is dedicated to her and her soul mate, Captain Thomas Dashwell.

Back in her youth, Philippa fell in love with Captain Thomas Dashwell. She actually met him for the first time when she was a young girl. Tim moves on, and her beloved Dash is in prison for and sentenced to hang. Philippa, Thalia, her cousin and several other friends, hatch a plot to bust Dash out of prison. It works, and it allows Philippa to spend some “quality” time with him while they are waiting for the other part of the plan.

To avoid giving away any details, I’ll just say that this book starts 20+ years later and Philippa is now a widow with two grown children and she who she thinks is Dash again. A few hours later, Dash’s son convinces her to come with him as Dash is really sick and needs her help. She packs a bag and goes immediately only to find out that Dash is an alcoholic and in a bad way. What she doesn’t know, is that Dash’s son has meanwhile left a ransom note, making it look like she has been kidnapped – and Philippa’s son is the youngest captain to get his own ship in the Royal Navy. And he’s heading to get his mother!

I think that main thing that I loved about this book was the theme of true love lasting for a lifetime. Although something always got in the way of Dash and Philippa being together, they always loved one another. When they finally were at the point in their lives where they could be together, their love just glowed between them. The other thing that I loved about this story is that it is basically about a woman who has done her duty, raised her children, lost a husband, but is still sexy, still has the ability to carry off “The Scandalous Red Dress”. A nice change from most Regency romances that are about 20 somethings or younger finding the love of their life. Full of youthful enthusiasm for the future and looking forward to starting a young family.

I’ve now read quite a few books by Ms. Boyle, and I was certainly looking forward to reading this one. By the way, I’m reading them out of order! I have been looking forward to the end of Philippa and Dash’s story. Although I know I keep saying this, I think this one is my favorite so far!

The characters of Philipa and Dash are absolutely outstanding! They are separated constantly by circumstance, but two halves of a whole. Dash does what he does, always aware that he might run into Philipa, or creates opportunities to run into her. When they are parted just before she marries, something in Dash breaks. She saved his life, and the result of that was they were parted.

The younger generation were very well written also. Imagine walking into a room and meeting your father for the first time – and you know this, because you are the spitting image of him!! Funny, funny, funny!

I don’t want to chatter on anymore and give away any more details! Pick up a copy of this book. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!
Buy a copy of Memoirs of a Scandalous Red Dress (Bachelor Chronicles)

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Confessions of a Little Black Dress by Elizabeth Boyle

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Welcome to Sugarbeat’s Books – The Home of the Romance Novel!

sugarbeat's books romance novels romance book reviews

Welcome also to Series Sunday!

We have recently finished the Julia Quinn Bridgerton series as well as the newer connected books that Ms. Quinn has written. We are now working our way through The Bachelor Chronicles – a series that has been written by Elizabeth Boyle. As I mentioned last week, I ran into Ms. Boyle at a book signing last fall, and she started me reading her books again after a bit of a break.  Once we finish with this series, I’ll be giving away a selection of books by Ms. Boyle!

Confessions of a Little Black Gown by Elizabeth Boyle
ISBN: 978-0-06-137323-7
Publisher: Avon Historical Romance
Release: Mar 31, 2009
Source: I purchased this book to read and review

sugarbeat's books romance books romance novel reviews historical contemporary eroticaShe spied him in the shadows….

And in an instant, Thalia Langley knew the man before her was no saint.  He might claim to be the Duke of Hollindrake’s unassuming country cousin, but no man that handsome, that arresting, could be anything but…well, he simply must be an unrepentant rogue.  His cat-like grace and power leave Tally shivering in her slippers at the notion of all the wicked, forbidden things he might be capable of doing….to her

Indeed, Lord Larken is no bumbling vicar, but a master spy there in his majesty’s service to find – and murder – a notorious pirate freed in a daring prison escape.  Devoted to the Crown, Larken’s not about to let an interfering (and not entirely innocent) Mayfair miss disrupt his ruthless plans.  Yet how can he be anything but tempted by this lady in a little black gown…a dress tantalizing enough to lead even Larken astray.

Confessions of a Little Black Gown  is another book in the Bachelor Chronicles series that Elizabeth Boyle has been writing over the last few years.  This is the second book that I have read recently by Elizabeth Boyle and I’m really enjoying this series of books!

Lord Larken is coerced into going undercover as The Duke of Hollindrake’s country cousin.  He is a former agent of the crown who was taken out of the field as he was becoming more and more unstable – according to his superiors.  Now these superiors need him for another job, and are not giving her any choice.  As a child, he was a witness to his father’s murder and is determined to discover who his murderer was.  Larkin has had a hard life and it’s not about to get any easier as he is tasked with not only capturing a notorious pirate but murdering him.  This pirate was once one of his best friends.

He thinks he assumes the demeanor of a bumbling country vicar, but Thalia Langley sees through him from the start.  Thalia is the sister of the Duke of Hollindrake’s new wife.  Thalia’s sister, Felicity is a force of nature, the creator of the Bachelor Chronicles and determined to make a name for herself as a successful matchmaker.  Felicity sees the job arranging for Milo Ryder aka Lord Larkin’s marriage as a feather in her cap.  She sets Thalia to seeing to grooming Mr Ryder/Lord Larken for presentation to potential brides.  Thalia keeps seeing two separate people – the bumbling vicar, and the dangerous, attractive man that she is drawn to.  No one else see anything other than a kindly vicar, much to Thalia’s dismay.  Meanwhile, Thalia and her cousin, Pippin are hiding Captain Dashwell, a pirate, in the house, disguised as their companion.  They broke Captain Dashwell out of jail and are hiding him until he can be taken to the coast to escape back to America and also so that Pippin can spend more time with the man that she loves.

This sets up the story and I don’t want to give away much more!  This story has alot of characters that should be difficult to keep straight.  Ms. Boyle’s style of writing and creating characters allows these characters to be distinct individuals.  They are connected to previous books and I imagine are setting up information for future books, but this book is easily read as a stand-alone without any information from other books.

The characters that Ms. Boyle creates are delightful.  The are truly good, or very bad.  Villains are deserving of our scorn, and conversely, the “good guys” are deserving of our cheers.  Thalia is a highly principled individual, but determines who deserves her regard.  Captain Dashwell is seen as a criminal set for hanging by the crown, but she sees him as misunderstood and sets out to save him from a hanging and protect him until he can escape to his ship.  Lord Larken has had a tough life and is in need of the proverbial “good woman” by his side.  Thalia is unconventional,  yet she seems to “fit” Larken.  He isn’t looking at her as someone who needs changing, although he does try to protect her on several occasions!

I have several more of this series on their way to me and I look forward to reading more of what Ms Boyle has written in this series.  Although I seem to be reading this series out of order, I’m looking forward to finishing it!

Buy a copy of Confessions of a Little Black Gown