Review - - Wilde Child

Wilde Child

by Eloisa James

Wildes of Lindow Castle - Book 6

Publisher: Avon

Release Date: March 30, 2021

Reviewed by PJ

He wants a prim and proper duchess, not the Wildest of the Wildes!

Already notorious for the golden hair that proves her mother’s infidelity, Lady Joan can’t seem to avoid scandals, but her latest escapade may finally ruin her: she’s determined to perform the title role of a prince—in breeches, naturally.

She has the perfect model for an aristocratic male in mind: Thaddeus Erskine Shaw, Viscount Greywick, a man who scorned the very idea of marrying her.

Not that Joan would want such a dubious honor, of course.

For years, Thaddeus has avoided the one Wilde who shakes his composure, but he’s horrified when he grasps the danger Joan’s putting herself in. Staring into her defiant eyes, he makes the grim vow that he’ll keep her safe.

He strikes a bargain: after one performance, the lady must return to her father’s castle and marry one of three gentlemen whom he deems acceptable.

Not including him, of course.

PJ's Thoughts: 

I've been reading Eloisa James books for years but the last few books in her Wildes of Lindow Castle series are among my favorites. I've enjoyed their lightness of spirit, sparkling wit, sizzling chemistry, sense of humor, and feel-good emotion that warms my heart. 

I really had no idea what to expect from Wilde Child. Both Joan and Thaddeus had appeared in earlier books but I had only come to know them at a surface level. There had been no attachment formed and my first opinions of Thaddeus were not all that favorable. That all began to change as I read their story and the layers behind the masks both presented to society were slowly peeled away. The evolution of Thaddeus's character was significant, and anticipated, but what surprised me more was the evolution of Joan. I had not expected her growth nor the direction it took. Watching both of them discover their true selves as their relationship progressed was pure pleasure. They made me laugh, made me sigh, and filled me with their joy. In these two, James has created interesting, fully-developed, sensual, loyal, caring, multi-layered characters who though, at first glance, seem completely wrong for one another, are actually the missing puzzle pieces that make one another whole. I adored them. 

This is (possibly) the final book in the Wildes of Lindow Castle series. Fans are still hopeful that eldest brother, Horatius lives. His family believes he died eleven years ago but as his body was never recovered from the bog, that door remains slightly ajar. Whether James will resurrect him remains unknown though there are many tidbits scattered throughout Wilde Child that could be followed if she decides to return him to his family and share his story. Whether that occurs or not, Wilde Child is a fitting conclusion to the series and a tribute to this fiercely loving and unapologetically loyal family. 

Though Wilde Child is the sixth book of this series, it can absolutely be read on its own. However, once you meet the other family members (and there are many featured in this final book), you'll most likely be eager to read their books as well. 

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Have you read any of the Wildes of Lindow Castle books?

Do you have a favorite Wilde couple?

In Wilde Child, Joan has dreams of being a stage actress. Have you ever performed on stage? What were your early dreams? Did you achieve them? 

One randomly chosen person who posts a comment before 11:00 PM, March 27 will receive a print copy of Wilde in Love, the first book in the Wildes of Lindow Castle series. 

*Must be 18

*U.S. only

Review & Giveaway - - My Last Duchess

My Last Duchess

by Eloisa James

The Wildes of Lindow Castle - Prequel

Publisher: Avon

Release Date: October 27, 2020

Reviewed by PJ

Every Duke needs a Duchess...

Hugo Wilde, the Duke of Lindow, has a drafty castle, eight naughty children—and no wife. Ophelia, Lady Astley, has a fine house, one well-behaved daughter—and no husband. 

Hugo takes one look at Ophelia and loses his heart, but she doesn’t want more children or a castle. She takes one look at him and heads for her carriage. 

Desperate to find a duchess, Hugo identifies an appropriate lady to woo. Yet when he meets Ophelia again, the duke realizes that he will marry her, or no one. 

Now he faces the greatest challenge of his life.

He must convince Ophelia that their blazing sensuality, his exquisite castle, and his eight charming children add up to a match made in heaven. 

When a duke finds his duchess, can he win her heart?

PJ's Thoughts:

My Last Duchess is a fun, fast, warm hug of a book that checked all of my happy reader boxes. If you're a fan of the Wildes series, you've seen glimpses of the Duke of Lindow and his duchess in the background of the stories. We know they are madly in love, we know they're good parents, we know she's his third duchess, but we really don't know much more...until now.

I adored this story. It's like a special treat you weren't expecting. I loved the witty banter, heart-tugging romance, and castle-full of children determined to have a say in the selection of their father's next wife. I so enjoyed the fact that Hugo, determined to find an "appropriate" wife but not looking for love, saw Ophelia and was instantly smitten. Even better that Ophelia looked at him, his title, his castle, and his eight children and wasn't! It made the ups and downs of the story that followed so much fun. I enjoyed getting to know Hugo and Ophelia individually and following them through their rather unconventional but oh-so-romantic "courtship." I loved that James included the children in the story too. They're energetic, inquisitive, and mischievous; it was so much fun to see glimpses of the unique characteristics they would carry with them into adulthood. Meeting their younger selves made me want to go read their books all over again. Fans of the Wildes are sure to enjoy this look back at some of their favorite characters but if you're new to the series, My Last Duchess is a great place to start. 

If you're looking for a quick read (255 pages) that will make you laugh, sigh, and bubble over with joy, pick up a copy of My Last Duchess. It has my enthusiastic recommendation. 

~~~~~~~~~

What's the last book that had you feeling like you had unwrapped a joy-filled surprise?

Have you read any of the books in the Wildes of Lindow Castle series? Do you have a favorite?

One randomly chosen person who comments before 11:00 PM, November 1, 2020 will receive a print copy of My Last Duchess and a Wilde teddy bear from this year's Buns and Roses Tea for Literacy at which Eloisa James was the keynote speaker.

*Must be 18 or older

*U.S. addresses only

Review - - Say Yes to the Duke

Say Yes to the Duke
by Eloisa James
The Wildes of Lindow Castle - Book 5
Publisher: Avon
Release Date: May 19, 2020
Reviewed by PJ
 

A shy wallflower meets her dream man--or does she?--in the next book in New York Times bestselling author Eloisa James' Wildes of Lindow series.

Miss Viola Astley is so painfully shy that she’s horrified by the mere idea of dancing with a stranger; her upcoming London debut feels like a nightmare.

So she’s overjoyed to meet handsome, quiet vicar with no interest in polite society — but just when she catches his attention, her reputation is compromised by a duke.

Devin Lucas Augustus Elstan, Duke of Wynter, will stop at nothing to marry Viola, including marrying a woman whom he believes to be in love with another man.

A vicar, no less.

Devin knows he’s no saint, but he’s used to conquest, and he’s determined to win Viola’s heart.

Viola has already said Yes to his proposal, but now he wants her unruly heart…and he won’t accept No for an answer.

PJ's Thoughts:

There are times I'm in the mood for a book filled with conflict and angst; a book that takes me on an emotional roller coaster ride. But, other times, I want a book that's filled with witty banter, a boisterous and loving family, flirtatious fun, sizzling desire, and heart-tugging romance between two characters who had me in their corner, urging them on to a happily ever after. In short, a book that's fun, that makes me grin, laugh, and sigh - a book that makes me happy. This is one of those books. 

Even though I've read all of the books in this series, I really had no idea what to expect of Viola other than knowing she's shy. She is, but she's also so much more. I love her growth throughout the story, how she gradually gains confidence and slowly begins to embrace the strength and power within her, as well as her Wilde side. I love her quiet determination and caring nature. And I adore how she takes Devin to task from their first meeting. She is exactly what he needs in his life, as he is the perfect mate for her. I love his pursuit of her; how he embraces his (well-hidden) romantic side to woo her. Their playfulness with one another is such a joy. It's fun to watch their relationship deepen as they explore the passion between them, gradually opening their hearts to one another and the love that continues to grow between them. Their chemistry is off the charts and, let me just say, I'll never view a china closet in the same way again!

The secondary cast of characters in this book are a delightful accompaniment to the journey. In addition to various members of the Wilde family and Devin's family, there's a "pretty" vicar who not only plays an important role in Devin's and Viola's relationship but also finds himself caught in a romantic tangle of his own. 

Say Yes to the Duke is a witty, feel-good, historical romance that checked all of my happy boxes. It's exactly what I needed, had me grinning pretty much from beginning to end, and features a hero who made me sigh and a heroine who is one of my all-time Eloisa James favorites. I highly recommend it. 

Though this is the fifth book in the Wildes of Lindow Castle series and does feature some characters from previous books, readers new to the series should be able to fully enjoy this story without having read the others first. Though I do recommend those too. 

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Have you read any of the Wildes of Lindow Castle books yet? Have a favorite?

Who are some of your favorite romance families? 

Tour Review & Giveaway - - Say No to the Duke by Eloisa James

Say No to the Duke
by Eloisa James
The Wildes of Lindow Castle - Book 4
Publisher: Avon
Release Date: June 25, 2019
Reviewed by PJ

Could she possibly refuse a duke’s hand—in favor of a sardonic, sinful rake?

Lady Betsy Wilde’s first season was triumphant by any measure, and a duke has proposed—but before marriage, she longs for one last adventure.

No gentleman would agree to her scandalous plan—but Lord Jeremy Roden is no gentleman. He offers a wager. If she wins a billiards game, he’ll provide the breeches.

If he wins…she is his, for one wild night.

But what happens when Jeremy realizes that one night will never be enough? In the most important battle of his life, he’ll have to convince Betsy to say no to the duke.

My thoughts:

I've so enjoyed the first four books in the Wildes of Lindow Castle series, becoming more invested in this family with each book published. Each featured couple brings something unique and special to the series but Betsy and Jeremy just may be my favorites. I adored these two!

In this book, James has created two characters with an enormous amount of emotional baggage. Both Betsy and Jeremy have been impacted by events from their past. In Betsy's case, it's the actions of her mother, a woman who abandoned her family for a lover, by whom Betsy is now (unfairly) judged, that have shaped Betsy's actions in society. For Jeremy, who lost all of his men on the battlefield, survivor's guilt is a daily struggle. Both carefully control what they allow others to see and, consequently, very few really know them. Only with one another do they eventually let those masks slip and once they do...let the fun begin!

I couldn't turn the pages of this book quickly enough but then, once I had finished, I returned to the beginning and read it again, this time slowly savoring each delicious word. The banter between Jeremy and Betsy is fast, fun, and plentiful, and the intimate scenes are filled with emotion and heat. The rawness of Jeremy's anguish is so vivid as is the PTSD he battles but the fears Betsy has dealt with most of her life are no less real. All of that is dealt with head-on but James infuses plenty of sass, humor, and passion to keep the story from becoming dark or angst-ridden. And romance. The declarations between these two are so deeply romantic, I defy anyone to not sigh with sheer, heart-tugging delight. I sure did.

I can't wait to find out what Eloisa James has in store for the Wilde family next!

Are you reading this series?

Do you have a favorite Wilde couple?

One randomly chosen person posting a comment before 11:00 PM, June 26 will receive a print copy of Say No to the Duke. (U.S. only) 

Excerpt
Say No to the Duke

They moved toward each other as if they were following the steps of a very slow, very grand country dance. One that was danced by kings and queens and countryfolk alike.

When they were beside each other, she squared her shoulders and met his eyes. “I decided to come to you. I hope that is all right.”

“I do believe that you are the bravest woman I’ve ever met,” he replied.

He couldn’t have said anything better; Betsy felt herself begin to glow. “I haven’t been brave to this point, but I have made up my mind to change. I outlawed being nervous, but now I need to outlaw being afraid.” She hesitated. “I have chosen courage, and now I choose happiness.”

“I love you as you are,” he whispered, and then his mouth came down on hers.

Her breath caught in her throat because their tongues met as if they kissed every day, every night. He tasted right, which sent a shiver through her whole body, and pushed her against him gently, the way a pebble might roll up a beach when the tide comes in.

One doesn’t fight the tide.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Eloisa James is a USA Today and New York Times bestselling author and professor of English literature, who lives with her family in New York, but can sometimes be found in Paris or Italy. She is the mother of two and, in a particularly delicious irony for a romance writer, is married to a genuine Italian knight. Visit her at www.eloisajames.com.

Review - - Born to be Wilde

Born to be Wilde
By Eloisa James
The Wildes of Lindow Castle - Book 3
Publisher: Avon
Release Date: July 31, 2018
Reviewed by PJ

For beautiful, witty Lavinia Gray, there’s only one thing worse than having to ask the appalling Parth Sterling to marry her: being turned down by him.

Now the richest bachelor in England, Parth is not about to marry a woman as reckless and fashion-obsessed as Lavinia; he’s chosen a far more suitable bride.

But when he learns of Lavinia's desperate circumstances, he offers to find her a husband. Even better, he’ll find her a prince.

As usual, there’s no problem Parth can’t fix. But the more time he spends with the beguiling Lavinia, the more he finds himself wondering…

Why does the woman who’s completely wrong feel so right in his arms?

Before we get into the content of this book, can we all just take a minute to appreciate that cover? I mean, really. Maybe it's shallow of me (and I'm totally okay with that) but when this book joins the other Wildes on my bookshelf this one will be facing outward. Maybe forever. <grin>

Let me start off by saying I'm so enjoying this loud, supportive, meddling, loving family that Eloisa James has created in the Wildes of Lindow Castle series. The family dynamic (both good and bad, humorous and emotional) rings true and reminds me of the large family of siblings and cousins that surrounded me as I grew up. 

Another theme that threads its way through these books is friendship. Specifically, female friendships. In each book, those friendships shift and evolve as do the characters themselves. As each of their stories unfolds, James slowly reveals more of each character, allowing us to see them in a new light even as the character herself begins to recognize and accept the changes, the strengthening, within herself.

Finally, the romance. Parth and Lavinia have been striking sparks off one another since the first book in the series but, of course, both of them chalk it up to their instant dislike of the other. She thinks he's a rich know-it-all while he thinks she's a flighty spendthrift dangling the men of the ton at her feet. Neither is willing to look beneath the surface emotions until unforeseen circumstances force them to. But once they did, my heart was with them the entire way.

Watching Lavinia dig deep for courage and strength, take control of a dire situation, find a way out on her own, and find her passion in the process endeared her to me more than almost any other Eloisa James heroine. The growth of this character was inspiring. I was in her corner, cheering her on the whole way. 

I was in Parth's corner too, often saying, "Wake up! You're going to lose her!" Parth has a fair amount of bias against what he views as Lavinia's shallow obsession with fashion. Man has some hard lessons to learn but learn he does, as his grand gesture near the end of the book proves. I adored it...and him. I found Parth's personal journey to be just as emotional as Lavinia's and necessary to their happy ending. They may have begun their journey at cross purposes but by the end of their story I was confident these two would have a wonderful, passionate life together as true partners, in and out of bed. 

Kudos to Eloisa James for another witty, humorous, sensual, emotional, heart-tugging journey with the Wildes of Lindow Castle.