Review - - Nearly a Bride

Nearly a Bride

by Sabrina Jeffries

Lords of Hazard - Book 2

Publisher: Kensington Books

Release Date: April 28, 2026

Reviewed by PJ

After more than a decade separated from his home and family, the Earl of Heathbrook returns to his London townhouse to face a new test: reclaiming guardianship of his younger brothers. His reputation as a rakehell, it seems, has followed him from detention inside Napoleon’s France and caused his own father to block Heathbrook’s rightful custody in his will. However, the clever rogue concocts a plan to restore respectability and rescue his siblings . . . by finding a “fiancée” with no strings attached.

Giselle Bernard is not looking to wed an earl with a wild past. All she seeks is a connected nobleman who can legally secure her new life in England and head off a mysterious stranger’s threats. Posing as Heathbrook’s bride-to-be would surely benefit them both. But as revelations come to light—the ill-fated young affair that left Heathbrook embittered, and the mademoiselle’s own guarded secrets—their engagement charade may unexpectedly blossom into a promise to love, honor, and cherish . . .

PJ's Thoughts:

Imagine being a 17-year-old forced to accompany your father on a trip to France then spending the next eleven years detained, then imprisoned, by Napoleon. It's the type of experience that leaves a person fundamentally changed, not to mention the changes to everyone and everything left behind in England. That's the premise of this new series from Sabrina Jeffries who has created two books, so far, that have been hard to put down.  

This second book in Jeffries' new trilogy kept me engaged from start to finish. I admit, fake engagement is one of my favorite romance tropes and it's done so well in this book. Giselle and Heathbrook are on equal footing when the deal is struck which, for me, made it even more enjoyable. Each needs the other, neither wants a permanent relationship, and, oh, how much fun it is when those pesky romantic feelings enter the picture.

I really enjoyed the different relationships in this book, those among friends, family, and couples. There are more than a few twists that impact those relationships as well as the progression of the story. But I also enjoyed how the evolution of the relationships revealed facets of individual characters. Giselle's deepening bonds with Heathbrook's brothers, in particular, not only gave readers additional insight in her character but helped Heathbrook repair his sibling relationships as well as open his eyes to possibilities between him and Giselle. 

I love character growth in a book and in this one, Heathbrook has a boatload of growing to do. It was immensely satisfying to watch his evolution and the results of it upon his family, his relationship with Giselle, and his overall outlook upon life. By the end of the book, I was firmly in his corner and cheering the person he had become. 

If you enjoy historical romance with secrets, complicated family dynamics, witty banter, slow-burn romance, a bit of a mystery, surprising twists, and a hard-won happy ending, give Nearly a Bride a try. I thoroughly enjoyed it. 

Review - - Hazardous to a Duke's Heart

Hazardous to a Duke's Heart

by Sabrina Jeffries

Lords of Hazard - Book 1

Publisher: Kensington

Release Date: April 29, 2025

Reviewed by PJ

Napoleon’s war has ended, and English captives detained for years in a French fortress are finally released. Returning to a London he no longer recognizes, and facing astonishing changes in his own family, Lord Jonathan Leighton learns he has inherited a dukedom. But the new nobleman carries the guilt of having wronged his late mentor. Now, he vows to fulfill his promise to find a suitable match for the man’s daughter, Victoria—even if it takes offering a nonexistent dowry to spark her interest in matrimony . . .
 
Sharp-witted Victoria would just as soon sculpt the Greek god who has come to take charge of her future. In fact, she has her sights set on founding a school for women artists. As Jonathan matches wits with the talented beauty, revelations from his past—and their connection to her father’s demise—threaten to unveil both of their closely held secrets and thrust them into a danger they can only escape together.

PJ's Thoughts:

Sabrina Jeffries launches a new series featuring Englishmen returning from France after eleven years held captive. As you might imagine, there are emotional issues to work through as each hero finds his footing amongst all the changes during their absence.  

When Jon left for his grand tour, he was young, arrogant, and carefree. Eleven years later, a much more sober man returns to responsibilities, family obligations, and a debt to repay to the tutor who didn't make it home. When he agreed to find the man's daughter a husband he had no idea what he was in for. I love when a hero's well-laid plans for his heroine are blown to smithereens in an instant. 

I adored Tory. In her, Jeffries created a character who had my whole-hearted support, respect, and affection. The banter between her and Jon sparkles. I love her determination, her vulnerability, and her fierce protection of the secret she's keeping. The chemistry between this couple is undeniable and the feelings deepen as Jon struggles with what his heart wants and what his conscience demands. 

Jeffries does a good job of introducing the lead characters of the next two books, giving readers a taste of what we're in for without allowing them to outshine the main couple. There's also a mystery that will unfold over the course of the series and an unexpected twist in this book that caught me by surprise. I'm eager to discover how it will all play out over the course of the series.