Review - - Every Duke Has His Day

Every Duke Has His Day

by Suzanne Enoch

Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin

Release Date: September 19, 2023

Reviewed by PJ

 

Michael Bromley, Duke of Woriton, has a passion, but it’s not for chasing ladies or gambling till dawn. No, his is the far more dangerous pursuit of the science of chemistry. He may be a tad eccentric, but he can navigate a society ballroom, and manage a polite conversation—if he must. He’s certainly capable of taking care of his aunt’s perfectly behaved poodle, Lancelot, while she’s on holiday.

Elizabeth “Bitsy” Dockering, third daughter of a viscount, is enjoying her second, spectacular Season in London. She is a Diamond of the Season and is adored by all—and especially by her precious black poodle, Galahad. To everyone else, however, Galahad is a demon dog. So much so that Bitsy’s most insistent beau and particular victim of Galahad’s bad manners, has hired a thief to steal the dog, clearing the way for his suit.

But none of them can plan for a chaotic encounter in the park, resulting in lost notes, a soaking in the Serpentine and an accidental dog swap…and Lancelot being kidnapped instead of Galahad! Determined to locate the dog, Michael isn’t thrilled to be saddled with a flighty female insisting on helping—except that Bitsy has a great deal more sense than he expected. And a sharp tongue to match. Still, what’s a scientist to do but continue to pursue an outcome, however unexpected it may be? But chemistry is all about attraction, and this is one formula with some hilariously romantic results.

PJ's Thoughts:

In the mood for a madcap adventure with grins around every corner? That's what Suzanne Enoch brings in her newest historical romcom. It's an absolute delight.

Michael and Elizabeth (he calls her that so I will too) are so much fun. I love their banter, their chemistry, the friction that masks pesky feelings. There's much more to each of them than first appears on the surface. He's a reclusive (possibly mad?) grumpy scientist. She's a sunshiny (featherbrained?) social butterfly. Oh, but wait. There are layers - hidden layers - to these two that begin to surface. Oh, the possibilities. Enoch presents each of them with all of their particular quirks without making them seem like a caricature. I love how they each gradually bloom over the course of the story as they traverse London in search of the missing dogs. 

I should take a moment here to make two things clear. First, if you're a fan of Enoch's steamy historical romances, you should know that this is a different type of story. There's emotion, and attraction, but no steam. The primary focus here is on the adventure and comedy. There is a happily ever after, actually two, but it's the endearing kind. I call it romance light. Second, to save you the anxiety I experienced, you should know that no dogs were harmed in the telling of this story. That's a bit of a spoiler but if you're like me, you'll enjoy this book much more if you know that up front. 

The secondary cast of the book is pure gold with a soft-hearted thief, Michael's meddling staff, and, of course, the dogs leading the way. The villain is superbly drawn. It's such a pleasure to watch him taken down, especially Michael's part in it. 

To wrap things up, if you're looking for a fun, lighthearted romp through Regency London with intriguing characters, misadventures, pitch-perfect comedic antics, lovable dogs, and happy endings for pretty much everyone (except the villain), pick up a copy of Every Duke Has His Day. It's a treat. 

Review - - Something in the Heir

Something in the Heir: A Novel

by Suzanne Enoch

Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin

Release Date: September 20, 2022

Reviewed by PJ

Smart, capable heiress Emmeline Pershing will do anything to keep her beloved home; and all it takes is an arranged marriage and a teeny white lie to fulfill her family’s silly inheritance rules. But now her little fib means that she and her completely unsuspecting husband are going to inherit big — and very messy! —trouble.

Emmeline and William Pershing have enjoyed a perfectly convenient marriage for eight years. Their relationship is a seamless blend of their talents and goals. They’ve settled into separate, well-ordered lives beneath the same roof, and are content to stay that way—or so Emmeline thinks. And if William has secretly longed for a bit more from the woman he adores, he’s managed to be content with her supreme skills as a hostess and planner, which has helped him advance his career.

Then when Emmeline’s grandfather, the reclusive Duke of Welshire, summons them both for his birthday celebration and demands they bring their two little angelic children, William is stunned to discover that his very proper wife invented not one, but two heirs to fulfill the agreement for living at Winnover. But surely if Emmeline and William team up and borrow two cherubs to call their own, what could go wrong? Enter George, age 8, and Rose, 5—the two most unruly orphans in Britain.

As the insanity unfolds, their careful, professional arrangement takes some surprisingly intimate turns as well. Perhaps it takes a bit of madness to create the perfect happily ever after.

PJ's Thoughts:

The first thing you should know before reading this book is that it is not a historical romance. Rather, it is a historical rom-com. Yes, there is a main couple (Will and  Emmie) and their feelings for one another are at play in the progression of the plot, and there's an endearing, smile-inducing, happy ending, but their relationship is not the core focus of the story. 

On the surface, this is a light-hearted, humorous romp with plenty of laughs along the way but if you look below the surface it's a bit more. I don't know if the author intended those deeper messages amidst the laughter but I took them away nonetheless. First, there's the privilege of Will and Emmie and the assumptions that come with that: that they are somehow doing orphaned Rose and George a favor by bringing them into their home, buying them pretty clothes, teaching them manners, educating them, making sure they have soft beds, plenty of good food, safety and security...then sending them back to the orphanage in eight weeks when their usefulness expires. Or that Rose and George, reformed (somewhat) petty thieves, are the ones in need of transformation when it's their "betters" who have been and continue to be the ones perpetuating the con. Will and Emmie aren't bad people; let's call them misguided. It's clear that they've never looked beyond their privilege to wonder what life is really like for those not of their class. Needless to say, Rose and George provide them with eye-opening, life-altering revelations that shake the foundation of their beliefs and lead them to new, and better, versions of themselves. It was interesting to watch all four characters slowly evolve over the course of the story as emotions are engaged and lessons are learned - and taught - and not always in the way one would assume. 

One might expect Will and Emmie to be driving this story, and they do in parts, but it's clear from the moment they hit the page that Rose and George are the stars. Wise beyond their years, fiercely loyal to one another, and hungering for love more than they will ever admit, these two little scamps steal every single scene they're in, leaving laughter, exasperation, confusion, and affection in their wake. I adored them. It's pretty obvious from the beginning how it will all end but the fun is in the getting there, with plenty of twists, turns, and shenanigans along the way. I especially enjoyed the (secret) battle of wits between George and Rose and the household staff. 

If you're looking for a humorous, uplifting diversion, with a happy ending, if not the romance usually found in her books, give Something in the Heir by Suzanne Enoch a try. It's a fun ride. 

Review - - Kissing Under the Mistletoe & Birthday Giveaway #25

Kissing Under the Mistletoe

An Anthology

by Suzanne Enoch, Amelia Grey, and Anna Bennett

Publisher: St. Martin's Paperbacks

Release Date: September 28, 2021

Reviewed by PJ

 

Great Scot! by Suzanne Enoch
Miss Jane Bansil knows she will never have a fairy-tale moment. Well past the marriageable age, she’s taken a position as a companion and is now stuck in Scotland for Christmas, alone even in the middle of the boisterous MacTaggert family. But when Brennan Andrews, an architect and cousin to the MacTaggerts, arrives to draw up plans for a new family home, Jane must decide if she will take a chance at a happily-ever-after, or settle into her small, safe life for good.

Christmas at Dewberry Hollow by Amelia Grey
Miss Isabelle Reed has no plans to ever fall in love. She has a perfectly acceptable life with her mother at the Dewberry Hollow Inn, thank you very much. But when Gate, the Duke of Notsgrave’s grandson, appears at Dewberry Hollow searching for a carving on a tree, Isabelle cannot help but get involved. But Gate’s charm and their instant attraction makes Isabelle question if she’s willing to take her chance at love once again.

My Mistletoe Beau by Anna Bennett
Miss Eva Tiding is determined to cheer her widowed father with the perfect Christmas gift. Even if it means breaking into the home of the rakish Earl of Frostbough who swindled Papa out of his pocket watch. But when the earl, Jack Hardwick, catches her in the act, they strike a deal: she’ll pose as his fiancée in exchange for the watch. Falling in love is not part of the plan—but with a little Christmas magic, anything is possible…

PJ's Thoughts:

The three stories in this anthology are sure to put readers in the holiday spirit. The characters are well developed, each story moves along at a good pace, and the romances are both sweet and spicy, with a sigh-worthy happy ending at the end of each. 

Suzanne Enoch's "Great Scot!" is an engaging, humorous, and heart-tugging story featuring Jane Bansil, a secondary character from Enoch's The Wild Wicked Highlanders trilogy. This trilogy is one of my favorites by Enoch and I loved joining the MacTaggerts in Scotland for this new story. Fans of those wild MacTaggerts and the women whose hearts they captured will delight not only in reading Jane's endearing journey to love but also in catching up with the couples from the three books as well as their parents. Readers new to this world, however, should have no trouble at all falling in love with Jane, Brennan, and a Highlander Christmas. 

"Christmas at Dewberry Hollow" features a heroine who will never be the demure lady her mother wishes her to be. I liked Isabelle immediately. More than that, I also admired and respected her. Her hero took me a bit longer to warm up to as did the progression of their romance. I spent much of their story thinking she deserved someone better but he did bring me around in the end and I was happy with their HEA.  

I love a good enemies-to-lovers / fake relationship story and "My Mistletoe Beau" hit all the right notes for me, from their first encounter, as Eva is caught rummaging through Jack's unmentionables after breaking into his home, to their final, sigh-worthy declaration of love. The banter is witty and rapid-fire, the chemistry sizzles, and the emotional depth is real and heart-tugging. I don't know if this story is connected to any other books by Anna Bennett but I aim to find out. I thoroughly enjoyed this cast of characters, as well as the style of writing, and am looking forward to reading more by this author. 

If you're looking for a trio of fun, engaging, and heartwarming Christmas romances, give Kissing Under the Mistletoe a try. 

Do you hang mistletoe (fake or otherwise) at Christmas?

Have you ever shared a kiss under the mistletoe?

Are you reading any of the authors in this anthology?

Birthday Giveaway #25:

One person who posts a comment before 11:00 PM, September 27 will receive two books from PJ's home collection.

*U.S. only

*Must be 18

*Void where prohibited

Review - - Hit Me With Your Best Scot

Hit Me With Your Best Scot

by Suzanne Enoch

The Wild Wicked Highlanders - Book 3

Publisher: St. Martin's

Release Date: February 9, 2021

Reviewed by PJ

The MacTaggert brothers have one task:

Find English brides or lose their land!

Coll MacTaggert, Viscount Glendarril, is a big, brawny Highlander who doesn’t like being told what to do—not even by his exasperated English mother who is determined to see her eldest son wedded and bedded. However, when he comes to the rescue of an irresistibly beautiful woman, Coll discovers that he may have found his perfect match…

The challenge isn’t that Persephone Jones is famous, wealthy, independent, and smarter than anyone he knows.The problem is that she isn't interested in marrying any man—especially not a hot-headed Scot—even if he is the only man who seems to understand who she really is even when she’s not sure herself. When Coll learns that Persephone is actually a lady-in-hiding and someone is willing to kill her for what she stands to inherit…Well, Coll has never been one to turn down a fight. When hearts are involved, nothing comes between a Highlander and his lady.

PJ's Thoughts:

You know how sometimes you read a book that hits all of your happy buttons, to the point where it feels like the author wrote the story just for you? That's exactly how I feel about Suzanne Enoch's Hit Me With Your Best Scot. I read an advance copy of the book a few months ago and couldn't put it down. Coll, Persephone, and their journey made me so happy. I smiled, I sighed, I laughed out loud. I cheered so darn hard for these two. Last night, I went back to the beginning of the book, intending to skim key points before writing this review. I wasn't even to the end of the first chapter before I was once again fully immersed in the story. Forget skimming; I savored every delicious word before sighing with delight while turning the final page somewhere around 3:00 AM this morning. So good.

I'll admit I wasn't a big Coll fan in the first two books but his character isn't really fleshed out until he steps into the spotlight in his own story. I love how, with Persephone, he's able to be his true self rather than playing the role that fulfills the perceptions of London society. He's much more intelligent, and complex, than he first appears and Enoch uses skill and subtlety in unveiling those layers to the reader through his interactions with Persephone. He flat-out stole my heart and ended up being my favorite brother.

Persephone is not your usual regency heroine. I adored her intelligence, her confidence, her kindness, and her determination to chart her own course. I loved her fierce protection of Coll, as important as his own of her. I enjoyed that Enoch tempered her independence and strength with vulnerability and tenderness, and that Coll appreciated and respected both. I thoroughly enjoyed her sexual agency, the sensual chemistry she shares with Coll, and the unexpected depth of joy they discover together. 

There's a strong family dynamic at the core of the books in this trilogy that deepened my investment in all of the couples. Enoch is so good at creating realistic relationships between siblings and this one is spot on with snappy dialogue among the three brothers that is a highlight of all three books. I love that they fight, and tease, but always have one another's backs, without question. I enjoyed them immensely. 

While Hit Me With Your Best Scot is the third book in the series, it can absolutely be read on its own. However, as all of the siblings weave in and out of each other's books and their fractured relationship with their mother evolves throughout the series, I do think your enjoyment of the characters, and their stories, will be richer if the books are read in order. 

Review - - Scot Under the Covers

Scot Under the Covers
by Suzanne Enoch
The Wild Wicked Highlanders - Book 2
Publisher: St. Martin's
Release Date: January 28, 2020
Reviewed by PJ
    

In Scot Under the Covers, a resourceful English lady and a hot-blooded Highlander join forces to trick a scoundrel, and every rule will be broken!

Miranda Harris is known for her charm, wit, and ability to solve any problem she encounters. But when her brother lands neck-deep in gambling debt to a crafty villain and Miranda is subsequently blackmailed into marrying him, she must enlist the help of the devil himself to save the family honor—and herself.

Devilishly handsome Highlander Aden MacTaggert knows next to nothing about the ways of the ton, but he most certainly knows his way around gaming halls and womens’ hearts. Still, Aden is not sure how he’ll manage to find a Sassenach bride in time to save his family’s inheritance. When his almost sister-in-law Miranda comes to him for assistance, he proposes a partnership: She will help him navigate London society and he’ll teach her everything about wagering…and winning back her freedom. The beautiful, clever lass intrigues Aden—but is she playing her own game, or are the sparks between them real? He is accustomed to risking his pocket. But betting on Miranda’s love is a game he can’t afford to lose. . .

PJ's Thoughts:

I am having so much fun with this new series by Suzanne Enoch. Following on the heels of book one, It's Getting Scot in Here, Niall and Amy's story, Scot Under the Covers brings middle brother, Aden into the spotlight. Readers met Aden in book one but he's still a bit of a mystery when his book begins so I came into this story with an open mind about both him and his heroine, Miranda.

The story begins a bit slow but takes off once Miranda approaches Aden, a man she neither likes nor respects, for help in foiling the villainous man who holds the future of Miranda's family, and especially Miranda, herself, in his hands. Knowing Aden gambles, she figures he's cut from the same cloth as the man threatening her. As she comes to learn, that's not the case. From that point on, we're treated to plenty of witty banter, sizzling chemistry, matching of wills, and, a gradual deepening of emotion as Miranda and Aden slowly lower their guards and open themselves to one another...and the reader.  

Aden is so much more than what he's allowed people to see. He made me smile, sigh, and cheer him on every step of the way. By the end of the book, I was thoroughly invested in him and his future happiness. I love how much he respects Miranda's intelligence and her abilities, how he treats her as a partner (even while trying to keep her safe), both in their attempts to take down a villain and when they finally come together in the bedroom. Miranda is someone I'd enjoy being friends with. I appreciated the growth of her character throughout the book, admired her ability to admit she was wrong about Aden, cheered her on when she took control of her life, both in standing up to those threatening her happiness and, again, when she made the decision to take control of her body, her future, and her relationship with Aden.  

Enoch also brings wonderful humor to this book, much of it intertwined with secondary characters such as Smythe, the stuffy English butler, Rory, the well-dressed, stuffed deer the brothers brought with them from the Highlands and installed in their mother's home, Brogan, the dog Aden rescues that he insists is a male (she's not) and insists followed them all the way from the Highlands (she didn't), and, surprisingly, eldest brother, Coll. I'm now eagerly anticipating his book and excited to find out what Enoch has planned for him. 

Another secondary character who has appeared in both books is Miranda's younger brother (the one who put her in danger). I don't know what Enoch has planned for Matthew, who is betrothed to Eloise, the younger sister of Aden, Niall, and Coll, but I'm not nearly ready to forgive him for his actions in Scot Under the Covers. He took baby steps at the end of this book but he's going to have to do some major growing, and groveling, before I'm ready to accept him as Eloise's husband. 

Tour Review - - It's Getting Scot in Here

It's Getting Scot in Here
by Suzanne Enoch
Wild Wicked Highlanders - Book 1
Publisher: St. Martin's
Release Date: February 26, 2019
Reviewed by PJ
 

HAPPILY-EVER-AFTER
London socialite Amelia-Rose Baxter is nobody’s fool. Her parents may want her to catch a title, but she will never change who she is for the promise of marriage. Her husband will be a man who can
appreciate her sharp mind as well as her body. A sophisticated man who loves life in London. A man who considers her his equal—and won’t try to tame her wild heart...

IN THE HIGHLANDS
Rough, rugged Highlander Niall MacTaggert and his brothers know the rules: the eldest must marry or lose the ancestral estate, period. But Niall’s eldest brother just isn’t interested in the lady his mother selected. Is it because Amelia-Rose is just too. . . Free-spirited? Yes. Brazen? Aye. Surely Niall can find a way to soften up the whip-smart lass and make her the perfect match for his brother for the sake of the family.

JUST GOT A WHOLE LOT HOTTER.
Instead it’s Niall who tempts Amelia-Rose, despite her reservations about barbarian Highlanders. Niall finds the lass nigh irresistible as well, but he won’t make the mistake his father did in marrying an Englishwoman who doesn’t like the Highlands. Does he have what it takes to win her heart? There is only one way to find out...

My thoughts:

What a terrific story to launch Enoch's newest trilogy about three rugged highlanders who must travel to London, to their estranged English mother's home, and marry English brides in order to protect their Scottish home. To say they're unhappy about the circumstances would be a massive understatement. But these handsome, kilt-wearing, fish-out-of-water highlanders may be in for big surprises. 

I fell for this entire family, Scots and English alike, but, in this book, it's Niall who fully captured my heart. The youngest brother, he has the dimmest memories of the mother who left him and his brothers in Scotland with their father when she fled back to London with their baby sister. Perhaps that's why he seems to be the one most likely to allow her back into his affections or maybe it's just that he's always been the peace keeper in the family. I admired his loyalty to his brothers but also appreciated that he followed his heart, though the aforementioned loyalty, and heart, are sorely tested when the woman he's falling for is promised to his older brother. I liked his wicked humor, his tenderness, and his sensuality. 

Man, did I feel for Amelia-Rose. I would imagine she's like many of the young women in London at that time. She has a mind and wants to use it, has an opinion and longs to express it, a wonderful, sarcasm-tinged sense of humor that aches to be set loose, but her dragon of a mother, not to mention society at large, view her only as a tool for opportunity. Her only value, in their opinion, is to bring a title into her family and money to the man who deigns to wed her. No wonder she falls hard for a man who delights in her being her true self. I liked her so much and loved her chemistry with Niall. They have such fun together, not only their hearts but their minds are involved in their relationship. I loved that they "got" each other. 

Of course, there are many obstacles to a happy ever after for our couple, the unwanted betrothal to Niall's brother being only one, but Enoch deftly guides them around, over, and through each one. Though I do have to admit, I had no idea how she'd overcome the seemingly insurmountable obstacle at the end of the book (but, of course, she does!). It's Getting Scot in Here is a fast-paced story with humor, family conflict, witty banter, tender romance, sensual love scenes, and a satisfying depth of emotion. It kept me eagerly flipping pages from beginning to end. The family dynamics are well developed and believable while the characters themselves are vividly drawn. I can't wait to find out more about Niall's brothers and their younger sister. And, I do hope their grouchy, Scots father will re-enter the picture at some point!

How do you feel about fish-out-of-water stories?

Do you enjoy kilt-wearing, highlander heroes?

Have you read any Suzanne Enoch books? Do you have a favorite?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A native and current resident of Southern California, Suzanne Enoch loves movies almost as much as she loves books, with a special place in her heart for anything Star Wars. She has written more than forty Regency novels and historical romances, which are regularly found on the New York Times bestseller list. When she is not busily working on her next book, Suzanne likes to contemplate interesting phenomena, like how the three guppies in her aquarium became 161 guppies in five months. Some of Suzanne's books include Barefoot In The Dark, It's Getting Scot in Here, Lady Whistledown Stirkes Back and The Legend of Nimway Hall.

Review - - My One True Highlander

My One True Highlander
By Suzanne Enoch
A No Ordinary Hero Novel - Book 2
Publisher: St. Martin's
Release Date: April 4, 2017
Reviewed by PJ
  

Scotland, 1812―Rugged Highlander Graeme’s loyalty to his clan means that their enemies are his own―even when that includes his neighbor, the Duke of Lattimer. It’s a fight he doesn’t relish, but when Graeme’s reckless younger brothers foolishly kidnap Lattimer’s younger sister, all bets are off…

Lady Marjorie Forrester may be aligned with the enemy, but capturing her puts Graeme squarely in the middle of a war. If he turns Marjorie over to his clan chief, she could be killed. If he lets her go, his brothers could face prison. In addition, the woman can’t stop trying to civilize the lot of them! What’s a Highlander to do, then, but keep the stubborn lass close…and explore the unexpected passion that develops between them? But how can Graeme protect Marjorie and his brothers when both Lattimer and his own clan are on the warpath―and will do whatever it takes to tear these two star-crossed lovers apart?


It's been awhile since I've read a book by Suzanne Enoch but My One True Highlander reminded me of why I've always enjoyed her novels. This is a fast-paced story with adventure, sizzle, family dynamics, clan feuds, a battle of wills, and plenty of humor. But while all that is appealing, it's the characters Enoch creates that are the heart of this book. She brings them to life, not in the way she describes them but by allowing them to show us who they are through their actions and interactions.

Graeme is my favorite kind of hero. He's rugged and untamed, willing to fight to protect his family, tenants, and land. He doesn't back away from responsibility. In fact, he's been responsible for raising his younger brothers since their parents died when Graeme was twenty. Yet, for all that he's a warrior, scenes with his youngest brother show he has a soft side as well. But his is a bachelor household and the introduction of Marjorie, first as an unplanned prisoner and eventually as more, brings about wonderful banter and a rousing battle of wills as the rough edges of the Maxton men (and boys) are slowly refined (but not too much) by a feminine touch.

Unexpectedly thrust from paid lady's companion to Duke's sister, Marjorie has spent the past few months living her dream though the reality isn't living up to her expectations. London, it seems, isn't quite ready to accept the fact that her former soldier brother is now a duke and Marjorie is now a lady, no matter how much money she now has nor how proper or perfect she is determined to be. When Graeme's younger brothers kidnap her from an inn near their home while she's enroute to her brother's wedding, they have no idea of the havoc one ticked off woman can cause. Marjorie is not about to let some uncivilized Scots derail her long-held dream of being accepted by the ton, even if the youngest one is capturing her heart with his sweet nature and the oldest is capturing the interest of her other body parts. I admired Marjorie's determination, sympathized with her confusion over where her happiness lay, and cheered her on every step of the way.  

Enoch has surrounded Graeme and Marjorie with a rich and colorful cast of secondary characters, including a lovesick blacksmith, starchy lady's companion, nasty villain, and three younger brothers who are all vividly realistic, adding texture, humor, and poignancy to the overall story. 

My One True Highlander is the second book in Enoch's No Ordinary Hero duet but stands well on its own. However, I enjoyed it so much that I immediately downloaded the first book, Hero in the Highlands and am looking forward to reading the story of Marjorie's brother, Gabriel and his English-despising, Scottish heroine, Fiona.