Review & Giveaway - - A Scar in the Bone

A Scar in the Bone

by Sophie Jordan

A Fire in the Sky - Book 2

Publisher: Avon

Release Date: October 14, 2025

Reviewed by PJ

It’s been a year since Tamsyn transformed. From royal whipping girl in the palace of Penterra to the bride of Fell, the Beast of the Borderlands. From the enemy in the Beast’s bed to the wife he sacrificed himself to save. From an ordinary girl...to a dragon. And not just any dragon—a powerful fire-breather...and the best hope to keep magic from flickering out forever.

With Fell gone, torn from her side in the dangerous swirling mists of the Crags, Tamsyn is heartbroken and alone among the dragon pride. An unwelcome outsider still learning to survive in this fiery skin of hers within a new cutthroat society, she trains in the arena until her muscles burn and her blood spills. Slowly, Tamsyn forges herself into a warrior in the shadow of Fell’s enigmatic brother, Vetr, whose silver eyes track her with distrust...and maybe something more.

But is Fell truly beyond her reach? Their bond pulls at her, as fiercely as the drive to protect both humans and dragonkind from the growing threat posed by Stig, once her closest friend, now a relentless enemy determined to hunt her down and destroy her—and with her, all things magic.

Magic stirs in the darkness, strengthening all who believe in it. But will it be enough to save Tamsyn, the pride, the kingdom...and a fiery love fated to endure for centuries, as deep as a scar in the bone?

PJ's Thoughts:

Tamsyn's journey continues in this second book of Sophie Jordan's A Fire in the Sky series. A Scar in the Bone picks up the story one year after the end of book one. I admit, it took me a bit to figure out what was going on in this book, why Fell, the lead male character from book one was missing, and what roles all the new supporting characters would play. Once I settled in, though, I was once again eagerly flipping pages to find out what would happen next. 

This book takes Tamsyn in directions I was not expecting. The angst level is high, with unexpected twists and life-altering decisions looming about which I have opinions. Strong opinions. This is a dark fantasy romance and Jordan does not hold back. Tamsyn faces a lot of adversity that results in both physical and emotional trauma but also leads to growth in her character, again, both physically and emotionally. She needs that growth to survive the challenges and decisions she faces that will ultimately lead her to the necessary self-confidence and conviction within that will guide her to her happy ending. I was pulling so hard for that happy ending!

The world building within this book is well written with vividly depicted descriptions that had me believing dragon shifters are real (they are, right???) and action sequences that had me on the edge of my seat. My emotions took a hit not only from those physical  challenges but from the personal interactions as well. Tamsyn is put to the test time and again and I was right there with her, urging her to make the right decisions for her happiness every step of the way. At least, the decisions I thought were right. As mentioned above, I had very strong opinions about which decisions were the right ones. 

The end of the book offers a happy ending for Tamsyn and her chosen mate but there are storm clouds on the horizon for the world in which she lives and certain characters who have yet to play their final card. That makes me all the more eager for book three, set to be published summer 2026. Some characters from books one and two will be in that story but I'm told it features a new lead couple and can be read as a standalone. Not so for A Fire in the Sky and A Scar in the Bone. I strongly advise readers to read those two in order. Both books are currently available in print, ebook, audio, and through Kindle Unlimited. 

~~~~~~~~~~

Have you read A Fire in the Sky, A Scar in the Bone, or any other of Sophie Jordan's books?

Do you enjoy "other" worlds in your reading? 

What is it about those dragon shifters? Do they engage your interest as much as they do mine?

I attended a discussion and book signing with Sophie Jordan last night (and, yes, that is Sarah MacLean on my other side!) and came home with a signed hardcover copy of her newest release, A Scar in the Bone. It will be winging its way to one randomly chosen reader who posts a comment before 11:00 PM, October 17. 

*U.S. only

*Must be 18

Review - - A Fire in the Sky

A Fire in the Sky: A Novel

by Sophie Jordan

Publisher: Avon

Release Date: September 24, 2024

Reviewed by PJ

Dragons are extinct. Witches are outcast. Magic is dying.

But human lust for power is immortal.

Dragon fire no longer blisters the skies over Penterra, but inside the lavish palace, life is still perilous…especially for Tamsyn. Raised in the glittering court alongside the princesses, it's her duty to be punished for their misdeeds. Treated as part of the royal family but also as the lowliest servant, Tamsyn fits nowhere. Her only friend is Stig, Captain of the Guard...though sometimes she thinks he wants more than friendship.

When Fell, the Beast of the Borderlands, descends on her home, Tamsyn’s world becomes even more dangerous. To save the pampered princesses from a fate worse than death, she is commanded to don a veil and marry the brutal warrior. She agrees to the deception even though it means leaving Stig, and the only life she’s ever known, behind.

The wedding night begins with unexpected passion—and ends in near violence when her trickery is exposed. Rather than start a war, Fell accepts Tamsyn as his bride...but can he accept the dark secrets she harbors—secrets buried so deep even she doesn’t know they exist? For Tamsyn is more than a royal whipping girl, more than the false wife of a man who now sees her as his enemy. And when those secrets emerge, they will ignite a flame bright enough to burn the entire kingdom to the bone. 

Magic is not dead...it is only sleeping. And it will take one ordinary girl with an extraordinary destiny to awaken it.

PJ's Thoughts:

I’m not typically a romantasy reader but this book...wow…I could not put it down. From the opening pages to the final sentence, I was fully immersed in this world, in these characters. I had to know what would happen next. 

Jordan’s world building gave me a clear and vivid vision and understanding of this land where dragons once filled the skies before being annihilated by humans. The war against the dragons was necessary. It was kill or be killed. The only way for the humans to survive was to rid their world of the dragons. Only then would they be safe. But, was that really what happened or was there a deeper, more sinister plot at play among those humans who incited the masses? Why are some citizens living in the lap of luxury while those who protect their borders balance on the brink of starvation? And what will happen when a woman raised in that luxury is married off to a warrior from those borders who thinks he’s marrying a Royal Princess, who counts on that marriage to give him a seat at the table where decisions are made but, instead, finds himself saddled for life with the royal whipping girl? (And yes, that is exactly as horrible as it sounds)

Stakes are high for both Tamsyn and Fell from the get-go and it didn’t take long for me to be fully invested in both, especially Tamsyn. Jordan does an outstanding job of slowly unveiling the layers of these characters as they face off against danger, treachery, unimaginable circumstances, unexpected feelings, and each other. I enjoyed watching Tamsyn grow in confidence, finding her self worth and identity as her journey progresses while Fell deals with unfamiliar feelings as well as life-altering revelations. Tamsyn and Fell have the opportunity to change their lives, their world, if they are willing to embrace the unthinkable. Please embrace the unthinkable! 

A Fire in the Sky is one of my favorite books this year. The story held me in thrall, never once lagging, and keeping me eagerly reading late into the night. I’m fully invested in Tamsyn’s and Fell’s plight, emotionally attached to both characters, and already begging to know when book two will be released because….whoa…that ending! I have to know what happens next!

   

Review - - The Duke Starts a Scandal

The Duke Starts a Scandal

by Sophie Jordan

The Duke Hunt -  Book 4

Publisher: Avon

Release Date: October 24, 2023

Reviewed by PJ

A duke with secrets. 

Lucian, the newly minted Duke of Penning, has much to prove— to himself, his family and the ton. Craving spotless respectability, he must find an aristocratic wife. Unfortunately, he can’t keep his eyes—and thoughts—off his deliciously distracting housekeeper. Such a dalliance can only mar the facade he's constructed to protect his sisters' future from the demons of his past...but this fiery passion is a temptation he cannot resist. While Susanna may not the bride he needs, she is everything he desires. 

 A woman with a past.

As the housekeeper to one of the grandest estates in England, Susanna Lockhart has worked determinedly to become all that is proper and efficient, and she never steps over the line. Romance is an indulgence for the upper class, not for her—and most especially not with her employer. But every smoldering glance from the surly, handsome duke calls to the long-buried reckless wanton inside Susanna. A love between them can never be, but will Lucian and Susanna risk being together…

Even if it starts a scandal... 

PJ's Thoughts:

I took one look at that cover and couldn't wait to dive into this book. Steamy romance up against the wall with our housekeeper heroine taking charge? Yes, please! Unfortunately, what the cover promised the story didn't deliver. The scene on the cover did not make it into the book and though there was a bit of steam (one love scene near the end of the book), the overall heat level was quite low for a Sophie Jordan book. That's actually something I don't mind if I know to expect it going in but, in this case, my expectations were quite different.

Does this mean I didn't like the book? No, it's an enjoyable story, one worthy of four stars but I was hoping for more complexity. More character development. More connection. More emotional depth. Especially with the hero. Maybe I was just in the mood for some meaty angst. Others may feel differently but I wanted these two to yearn for one another...and I wanted to feel it. I didn't.

Sophie Jordan is one of my auto-buy authors. I love her books but this one fell a bit short for me, one of those "I liked it but I really wanted to love it" books. Still, if you enjoy mild angst, low steam (except for that one scene), and cross-class historical romance, it may be the perfect fit for you. 

Review - - The Scoundrel Falls Hard

The Scoundrel Falls Hard

by Sophie Jordan

The Duke Hunt - Book 3

Publisher: Avon

Release Date: August 23, 2022

Reviewed by PJ

 

A devil’s bargain burns the hottest….

For years, fiercely independent Gwen Cully has worked as the village blacksmith, keeping her family’s business going. But when a local rival threatens her livelihood, Gwen has nowhere to turn ... until a devastatingly handsome fugitive takes shelter in her shop and sparks fly. 

Unrepentant rogue Kellan Fox’s entire existence has been a dangerous game of deception that leads him into a fight for survival—and straight into the arms of a tall, fiery beauty. When Gwen protects him from an angry mob of villagers, Kellan sees the perfect solution to both their troubles. A marriage—in name only—that will last a single year. 

Only a marriage of convenience can’t hide their searing attraction. It glows hotter than Gwen’s forge and reaches deep below the tempting mask Kellan wears for the world. With every sizzling glance and scorching kiss, Gwen surrenders more of herself to the molten passion she finds in Kellan’s strong embrace. But can she ever truly trust her heart to a scoundrel? 

PJ's Thoughts:

A marriage of convenience between a fiercely independent female blacksmith and a charming con man caught in the act? With a setup like that, I couldn't dive into this one fast enough! Okay, so I had to suspend disbelief a bit in the opening pages of the book when our heroine, a fine, upstanding member of the community proposes a marriage of convenience with a thief she's just met but Jordan sells it. At least, she sold it to me. Both Gwen and Kellan have valid reasons for their decisions and who am I to scoff when I know this author most likely has plenty of delicious fun in the offing?

I don't think I've ever read a book with a blacksmith heroine before and, let me tell you, I loved her. Gwen is strong, fierce, hardworking, and unapologetically herself. She runs her own forge and suffers no fools, especially those trying to overtake her business. She could not be a more perfect match for Kellan, a man who has never done an honest day's work in his life but who has enough goodness in him to perhaps realize there could be another way...a better way.

Maybe I'm just a sucker for a charming con man but I was pulling for Kellan from the get-go. I love that he was immediately attracted to Gwen, recognizing her statuesque beauty (when her fellow townspeople all consider her masculine and "odd"). I love that he didn't try to change her or take charge. He appreciated all of her qualities, especially her strength and fortitude. 

I also enjoyed the changes brought about in both Kellan and Gwen as a result of their time together. The deepening desire between them sizzles, catching Gwen off guard and opening up that vulnerable, feminine side of her that she's never explored (If you're a Sophie Jordan fan, you already know you're in for some amazingly sensual, organically placed scenes). As for Kellan, his growing feelings for Gwen give him the incentive he's never had to make something of himself that would make her - and him - proud. Of course, there are obstacles along this path that challenge his convictions - and hers - but readers do get their happily ever after in the end. 

Speaking of the end, that really is one of the only quibbles I have with this book. The final chapter felt like a rush to the conclusion. I would have enjoyed a bit slower pace with more discussion between Kellan and Gwen, more emotional depth, before they are sent happily off into the sunset. But that's me. Others may not feel the same. 

The Scoundrel Falls Hard is the third book of a series but stands well on its own. There's an overarching theme for the series but I never felt lost or confused for having jumped in at this point. I will, however, be buying the first two books as well as the fourth when it releases. If you're in the market for a refreshingly original historical romance with engaging characters, a fast-moving story, and a happy ending, give this one a try.  

Review - - The Duke Goes Down

The Duke Goes Down

by Sophie Jordan

The Duke Hunt - Book 1

Publisher: Avon

Release Date: July 27, 2021

Reviewed by Santa

The Bastard Rogue...  

Peregrine Butler’s privileged blue-blooded world is rocked to the core when it is revealed he was born before his parents’ marriage and therefore is not the legal heir to the dukedom. Facing ruin, Perry must use his charm and good looks to win an heiress—all the while ignoring his fascination with the one interfering and alluring chit who is intent on sabotaging his efforts.  

 

The Lady Vicar...  

Everyone knows Imogen Bates, the virtuous daughter of the senile vicar. She can write a sermon in a day and spot a rogue in a second, so she sees right through Perry’s seductive façade. But Imogen’s plan to protect the heiresses of her beloved Shropshire from the erstwhile Duke of Penning, the bane of her existence since childhood, soon turns into something altogether unacceptable for the proper lady … who suddenly finds herself longing to keep his heated glances and tempting kisses all to herself. 

Santa Says:

The Duke Goes Down by Sophie Jordan is as provocative a read as the title cheekily suggests and was a five star read for me. This is the first book in what promises to be a very enjoyable series. It is an enemies-to-lovers story that brings together the vicar’s daughter, Imogen Bates, and Peregrine Butler, the Duke of - actually he’s no longer the Duke of Penning - he’s plain, old Mr. Butler now much to Imogen’s delight. 

Peregrine, or Perry, was the bane of Imogen's existence when they were growing up. When Perry loses the Dukedom due to an accident of birth - it seemed that his parents anticipated their vows and made it to the church a bit behind schedule - he finds himself in a financial bind and must marry an heiress as quickly as possible. Shunned in London as a bastard he returns to what was his home seat of Shropshire to find himself an heiress. Imogen will not stand for it! To have one of her friends who happens to be an heiress live with such a boorish, though decidedly handsome, man is out of the question. Imogen starts off a volley of rumors about Mr. Butler. 

Perry figures out who has been starting the rumors and confronts Imogen. He finds himself enchanted by a beauty that she tries to hide. They call a truce and find themselves drawn to one another. Imogen starts to see the good in him. And Perry starts to look at his once privileged life and what his life now could really be. Does he need a young woman who is an heiress that would enrich his coffers or the lady right in front of him that would more than enrich his life?  

The Duke Goes Down is filled with witty banter, some pretty steamy scenes and will touch your heartstrings. I highly recommend this delightful read and look forward to more in the series. Remember how Perry lost his dukedom? Well, we still have yet to meet the new duke and Shropshire has a number of interesting characters that I, for one, would love to read more about.

 

Spotlight on Naughty Brits

Naughty Brits

An Anthology

by Sarah MacLean, Sophie Jordan, 

Louisa Edwards, Tessa Gratton and Sierra Simone, 

Release Date: September 15, 2020

Everything is hotter with a British accent...

Sarah MacLean - A Duke Worth Falling For:

Her career in tatters, celebrity photographer Lilah Rose retreats to the British countryside, complete with fluffy sheep, rolling hills...and Max, the stern, sexy farmer who tends to them. But their lazy days and lush nights aren't as far from the spotlight as Lilah thinks, and Max will have to reveal the truth if he is going to convince Lilah that some dukes are worth the risk.

Sophie Jordan - Better with You:

When the author of a controversial self-help book starts receiving threats, she has no choice but to accept a bodyguard on her UK book tour. Vee Mathers is famous for asserting that women don't need men--especially for sex!--but at security specialist Luca Moretti's first, burning touch, she starts to think she might need to revise her theory...

Louisa Edwards - Not a Bad Boy:

Writer Mallory Pritchard moved to London for research--and to get over a bad breakup. When she (literally) runs into Hollywood's hottest action hero, Ian Hale, at a dog park, she realizes her heart isn't as broken as she thought! Ian is even more devastatingly sexy in person, which makes Mallory wonder...is there room for a regular girl in his glamorous movie-star world?

Tessa Gratton - Songbird:

Former American soldier Daniel Kelly's mission is simple: close the deal to buy a Welsh pub on behalf of his family's corporation, and survive another anniversary of the worst day of his service. Too bad that from the moment he sees the pub's owner, Elspeth Gwenlan is the only thing Daniel wants to conquer--even if it means lying to her about his agenda.

Sierra Simone - Supplicant:

After being left at the altar by her cold and brilliant professor, Church Cason, Charlotte Tenpenny had to leave school to take care of her younger brother. But a fateful night brings Church--and his delicious, drugging kisses--back into Charlotte's life. And it stirs up a reckoning years in the making . . .

PJ's Thoughts:

Naughty Brits brought to the page by some of my favorite authors? I couldn't dive into this delicious new anthology fast enough. First up was Sarah MacLean's story, "A Duke Worth Falling For" and, wow, did I ever fall. MacLean may be one of my favorite historical romance authors but this contemporary page-turner between an English farmer (who is also a billionaire duke) and an American photographer proves she's outstanding in any era. Filled with laughter (and darts) at the village pub, deep emotion, baby lambs, and sexy times on ramparts (sigh), it checked all of my reader happy boxes. I'd be happy for MacLean to dip her writing toes into present-day romance anytime, possibly for a couple intriguing secondary characters from "A Duke Worth Falling For?" 

Sophie Jordan is one of my favorite authors writing in both historical and contemporary romance. I'm an easy sell for bodyguard stories and Jordan's had me sighing with delight. Filled with emotion and sizzle, it had me eagerly flipping pages from start to finish. 

Welcome back, Louisa Edwards! After taking time away from writing for motherhood, Edwards returns with a sweet and sexy story that had me falling hard for both of her main characters. There's a lot more to Ian than his movie star image and I love that he falls for a curvy woman who is more at home in the stacks at the British Museum than on a red carpet. Plus, dogs! 

Tessa Gratton (a new to me author) takes readers to Wales for her story between a Welsh woman and American man. I'm not a big fan of the "let's get it on while I'm keeping my real reason for being here a secret" trope but Gratton manages to make it work. 

Sierra Simone wraps things up with a scorcher. If you've read her, you'll already know to be prepared for an intense, deeply emotional, red-hot story. Fans will not be disappointed. 

So, if you're in the mood for some naughty Brits, pick up a copy of this anthology. The stories are meaty (580 pages of romance!) and there's something for everyone. I highly recommend Naughty Brits! 

Review - - The Duke's Stolen Bride

The Duke's Stolen Bride
by Sophie Jordan
Publisher: Avon
Release Date: October 22, 2019
Reviewed by Santa
 

An urgent dilemma…

To save her impoverished family, Marian Langley will become a mistress. But she will not be just any mistress. Marian intends to become so skilled, so coveted, that she can set her own terms, retaining control over her body and her fate. Only one problem remains: finding a tutor…

A scandalous solution…

Other men deprive themselves of pleasure for propriety’s sake. Nathaniel, Duke of Warrington, would much rather be depraved. He slakes his desires with professionals who ask nothing of him but his coin. Marian’s proposal—that he train her without taking her virtue—is an intriguing diversion, until their lessons in seduction spin out of control.

And a most unlikely duchess…

When Marian is blackmailed into engagement by a man she despises, Nate impulsively steals her away. Though he never intended to take a wife, he can’t tolerate the idea of Marian forfeiting her freedom to another. But can he bear to give her what she demands—a real marriage?

Santa says...

The Duke’s Stolen Bride by Sophie Jordan is the newest addition to her The Rogue Files and it is another 5 Star for me. I have really enjoyed this series. We are introduced to our heroine, Marian Langley, in the previous books as governess and friend in the Duke of Autenberry’s household. She sent money home to her father and siblings but then her father fell ill and she returned home to care for him, staying after his death. Their circumstances quickly spiraled downward and she finds it more and more difficult to pay the bills and put food on the table.

And that is how she finds herself under a table, in a tavern, running from the coal peddler, one of many merchants she owes money to. As luck would have it the table she ends up under is the table of none other than a duke. A duke whose reputation precedes him. He is no other than the Duke of Warrington aka the Duke of Depravity. Marian intrigues him for no other reason than she lands at his feet, as any number of women do, but not for the usual reasons. He agrees not to give her away when the coal peddler storms in looking for her.

Marian’s problems don’t end there. She has a distasteful suiter who comes bearing gifts and keeps pressing his interest in her and if she does not agree to marriage to him he would be more than happy to press himself to her two younger sisters. Marian must come up with something more to do for her family. Tutoring and the sewing her sisters do are not enough to keep food on the table and their brother at Eton. 

Marion sees her only recourse is to become a mistress like the newly retired ‘widow’ who moved to their village a couple of years ago. Her friend, the widow Mrs. Ramsey, cautions her that it is not a lifestyle for everyone. But Marion is inexperienced and an innocent and would require some direction. She tells her of her encounter with the duke and decides to approach him to ask for his hand in her tutelage.

To say that Nathanial, the duke of Depravity, is shocked is an understatement. Once again, he is intrigued. An innocent wanting to be a sought after mistress. He reluctantly agrees and they set rules and requirements of their arrangement. Like never letting things go beyond kisses and caresses. What could go wrong? Love would never come into play - this a business arrangement. Its bounds are soon tested as her ‘suiter’ more aggressively plays his hand. The duke is left with little choice but to steal his bride.

Marian and Nate are a delight. I was rooting for them from the very beginning. I loved being introduced to the other Langley sisters. And I ask you, what English village wouldn’t be complete without a mysterious widow of unknown repute? I think you will enjoy this book as much as I did.

Review: How the Dukes Stole Christmas

How the Dukes Stole Christmas
A Holiday Romance Anthology
by Tessa Dare, Sarah MacLean, Sophie Jordan, and Joanna Shupe
Self-Published
Release Date: October 15, 2018
Reviewed by PJ

"Meet Me in Mayfair" by Tessa Dare

Louisa Ward needs a Christmas miracle. Unless she catches a wealthy husband at the ball tonight, the horrid, heartless Duke of Thorndale will evict her family from their beloved Mayfair home. But when her friend begs to switch dance cards, Louisa finds herself waltzing with the enemy: the horrid, heartless—and unexpectedly handsome—Thorndale himself. Now the duke's holding her future in his hands...and he's not letting go.

I read this first novella in the anthology just before bed and was gifted with sweet dreams all night. It's like being wrapped in a warm, Christmas hug while leisurely strolling through a beautiful snow globe. With Dare's trademark wit, humor, and sparkling dialogue, a smart-girl heroine determined to save her family home, and a reluctant Duke who turns out to be much different than expected, this heartwarming tale is one I'll happily re-visit again and again. "Meet Me in Mayfair" is a short novella, quickly read, but packed with so much story, heart, and beautiful characterization that I turned the final page with the deep-seated satisfaction typically reserved for a full-length novel. 


 "The Duke of Christmas Present" by Sarah MacLean

Rich and ruthless, Eben, Duke of Allryd, has no time for holidays. Holidays are for whimsy and charm—the only two things his money cannot buy. Lady Jacqueline Mosby is full of both, even now, twelve years after she left to see the world. When Jacqueline returns for a single Christmas, Eben can’t resist the woman he never stopped loving…or the future they'd once been promised. It will take a miracle to convince her to stay…but if ever there were a time for miracles, it’s Christmas…

MacLean takes readers on an emotional roller coaster with this tale of childhood sweethearts, separated for twelve years, who have a second chance to get things right. A series of flashbacks, interspersed among the characters' current-day scenes, reveal the events that have brought them to their reunion, with a few unexpected turns along the way. This one is a real heart-tugger. You may want to keep a tissue or two on hand. 


"Heiress Alone" by Sophie Jordan 

When Annis Bannister's family leaves her behind in the rush to escape an impending snowstorm, she finds herself stranded in the Highlands, left to fend off brigands terrorizing the countryside, robbing homes locked up for winter. Her only hope falls on her neighbor, a surly hermit duke who unravels her with a look, then a kiss ... until she fears the danger to her heart outweighs the danger of brigands and snowstorms.

Jordan brings the spice to this stranded by snow romance (one of my favorite tropes) set in the Scottish Highlands. This duke is in no hurry to marry and especially not to an Englishwoman with very different plans for her future. But a snow storm, matchmaking staff, and a fiery attraction can unravel plans, as our couple quickly learn. I really enjoyed this story and even though I'm not always a fan of insta-lust, I totally bought into it with these two. There's just something about a Highlander....  


"Christmas in Central Park" by Joanna Shupe

Women all over America devour Mrs. Walker’s weekly column for recipes and advice. No one knows Rose, the column's author, can’t even boil water. When the paper’s owner, Duke Havemeyer, insists she host a Christmas party, Rose must scramble to find a husband, an empty mansion, and a cook. But Duke is not a man easily fooled and she fears her perfect plan is failing—especially when Duke’s attentions make her feel anything but professional. To save her career will she give up her chance at love?

I wanted to like this one more than I actually did. Shupe is a talented writer and I have enjoyed her full-length Gilded Age novels but this story just didn't work for me. I had problems with the set-up but, beyond that, I had a hard time buying into the relationship between the hero and heroine. Physical desire was certainly present but the emotional connection I was looking for wasn't there for me and while I liked and admired the heroine a lot, I had a number of issues with the hero. Still, one person's lemon is another's lemonade and while I had issues with this story, it may totally work for you. 


Do you enjoy anthologies?

Have you read any of the authors included in How the Dukes Stole Christmas?

Each of the stories in this anthology features a family shortbread recipe that doesn't exactly turn out as expected. What's your go-to family cookie for the holidays?

Review - - The Duke Buys a Bride

The Duke Buys a Bride

By Sophie Jordan
Publisher: Avon

Release Date: July 24, 2018
Reviewed by Santa

The Duke Buys A Bride by Sophie Jordan is a 5 out of 5 winner for me. I have to admit, as horrid as it sounds, I love me a bride sale. It is as awful as it sounds. A husband could ‘get rid of a spouse’ by auctioning her off. It was seen as the sensible thing to do as divorce was not an option within any class unless you were titled and could afford both the cost and stigma of it.

In The Duke Buys A Bride we find Marcus, Duke of Autenberry, a runaway duke of sorts. Marcus woke from a coma only to find himself comatose on the floor of a barn, taken prisoner for disorderly conduct. After paying his debt to society he tries to make his way to his estate in the Northern most part of Scotland, to the Black Isle.

Alyse Bell was married to Mr. Beard for seven years, keeping his house and raising his children when she was no more than a child herself. It was a chaste marriage which ran its course when a neighboring widow caught his eye. The way to dissolve the marriage was to auction her off on market day at an old, unused custom of a bride sale.

That’s what Marcus comes upon as he tries to leave the village and it enrages him to see a young lady leered and jeered at by the very people of her own village. He outbids everyone and gets a bill of sale and, unbeknownst to him, a wife. He is even more outraged and remains incredulous that it is even a true marriage but this is Scotland.

Alyse has no one to go to and no place to call home and so agrees to follow Marcus to his estate and become his housekeeper. Their journey is not an easy one. They have much to learn about one another and themselves. I enjoyed their journey and their love story! This is a great addition to Sophie Jordan’s The Rogue Files but equally brilliant on its own.