ARC REVIEW The Duke Knows Best by Jane Ashford

Book Five, not including The Bargain because it technically isn't part of the series but it is the same family, of The Duke's Sons series comes to a close; I think... I mean this is the last son of the Duke's to get married. I love Jane Ashford's writing this series has been a joy to read, some I liked better than others and out of all I think this one ties with What the Duke Doesn't Know as my least favorites of the series. I liked the idea of the story but I just really didn't like Lord Randolph. Verity was fine then she would say stupid things and it would make me want to facepalm. I think the best character out of the series is the Duke himself and the Duchess, they know their kids so well that they can predict what and how they are going to act. As little as they are in the overall series they hold that family together like nothing else.  

Lord Randolph is a vicar and before he needs to be at his next parish he decides he needs a wife, then he meets Verity. Verity was raised basically isolated from society, having both parents prefer the country life Verity was determined that she would never get stuck living in a boring country parish. Upon meeting Randolph Verity, who has no filter, makes asinine remarks about vicars and country living. Randolph and Verity do share a passion for music and soon they are asked to perform together. The time they spend rehearsing they get to know each other better and Verity realizes how wrong and harsh the words she spoke were. They fight their feelings toward each other mainly because they know they are not what each other want, Randolph loves being a vicar and Verity wants adventure.

Overall, I really couldn't feel all that connected to either Randolph or Verity, and even though everything was tied up with a little bow, for one exception Olivia, wtf. I like Jane Ashford's writing and this was a good read I just didn't feel the connection.

ARC REVIEW Last Gentleman Standing by Jane Ashford

The Last Gentleman Standing was originally published under the name Bluestocking and was only just made available again after 25 years.

This is more of a historical women's fiction with a side of romance. It kind of makes me think of what a newer Austin-esk books might read like, where it's more about Elizabeth and her cousins getting to know one another and how they are dealing with joining high society and all the troubles that come with it followed up by romance. It was a nice read I did enjoy it but for a romance it took way too long for that to happen and the ending seemed a bit rushed. It is third person POV but entirely from Elizabeth's perspective, so my greedy little mind doesn't find out what the other characters are thinking and their motives.

Elizabeth inherited her cantankerous miser of an uncle's fortune, all because she never asked for a hand out, and it was his way of shocking society. Elizabeth isn't your typical English miss, she has been for the last five years been a teacher at a boarding school, she is very intelligent and takes the news of becoming an heiress in a calm and practical manner. She even invites her two cousins, Anthony and Belinda, who were left out of the will to come live with her in London. Elizabeth has her work cut out for her both houses are in shambles from neglect and because her mother's side of the family disowned her for marrying beneath her she has no connections in the London society, for the exception of some cousin she met once as a child before her mother died. Luck for her her solicitor is a really good one and manages to track down her second cousin, Lavina, who is a hoot. Along the way Elizabeth met a neighbor of her country estate, Derek Wincannon. It isn't until later she finds out he is the son and heir to a Viscountcy. Derek is immediately taken with this beautiful but unusual woman and even goes out of his way to please her, unfortunately Elizabeth is kind of oblivious to it until almost the end of the book, more like three quarters of the way in.

Lavina is old friends with a Duchess who likes Elizabeth's straight forward manner and agree to sponsor Belinda and Elizabeth into society. Tony is enthralled by London and gets carried away, and it leads him into some trouble. Elizabeth also meets James Darnell who is an admitted fortune hunter, and falls in love with Elizabeth, fortunately Elizabeth is smarter than that. She also meets a mysterious Mr. Jarrett and a woman reporter who is aspiring to be a published poet.

Overall, the story was good it was definitely well written I like what happened I just think it was too much about everything else and not enough about Elizabeth and Derek.

ARC REVIEW Nothing Like A Duke by Jane Ashford

Book four in the Duke's Sons series and I have been waiting for Robert and Flora's story since the first book. Every other book has teased at their attraction and the bickering it's all foreplay. Jane Ashford has lead us on a merry chase with these two, in the last book the only mention was how bad humor Robert has been in since he left Oxford and Flora. The nice thing is that while it would be beneficial to have read the previous books (at least to get a feel for the past history of Flora and Robert and the other books are worth the read) it is not entirely necessary.

I love the writing style of Jane Ashford she's focused on the romance and the character building and does so in a way that is funny, romantic, and heartfelt. Both characters balance each other out and bring out the qualities they never thought they had. Robert is the pink of the ton very popular, fashionable and very sociable. Flora is a bluestocking who spent most of her life living up the the standards of her father who never got the boy he wanted. Flora never learned to socialize, she sees these girls act dumb and it irks her to no end that they do that and that men expect their women to act that way. There is no place in Flora's world for stupidity and no love for the high society that rejected her mother for marrying a poor scholar. But Robert changed her perspective on things he made her think things were possible and that she was willing to try going into society.

Robert could not fathom why Flora's opinion mattered to him, why he tried so hard to prove to her that he wasn't just a pretty face in society but that he was intelligent as well. However Flora just kept pushing him and making cutting remarks that Robert left and he thought to put the whole thing behind him and continue has he always had but he couldn't stop thinking about Flora. Getting into society at one of the better house parties before the season started he thought was the perfect place to forget about Flora, until she shows up and takes his breath away. Flora initially planned to go to the house party to experiment and learn about how to act in society so she can finally have her season. She hurt that Robert left she thought better of him but giving up and going back into society kind of reaffirmed everything bad she thought of him. Throughout the span of the house party through the childish actions of a manipulative young woman who has her sights set on Robert to the desperate actions of a cruel and money hungry gambler both Robert and Flora learn a lot about each other.

Overall, this was a good read. The side characters are a hoot, they made the story much more enjoyable.

ARC REVIEW Lord Sebastian's Secret by Jane Ashford

Book three of Jane Ashford's The Duke's Sons series. This one follows Sebastian (obviously) and Georgina. They met and engaged in the previous book if you haven't read it you really don't miss much pertaining to them. Sebastian has come to Georgina's family home to get to know the family before the wedding. Georgina is worried that they will find her unacceptable because of her eccentric family. But Sebastian has his own worries between Georgina's headstrong younger sisters bombarding him with questions about London and her father who undoubtedly thinks he's too stupid to marry his daughter, Sebastian is hiding a secret of his own.

 This was a quick and easy read, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I think I've liked this more than the first two in the series but not more than the prequel novella. Sebastian is the athletic type who had trouble in school and Georgina is the beautiful bluestocking. It would seem like an unlikely match but what attracted them to each other went beyond looks. Sebastian listened to Georgina when she talked about the things she enjoyed and to Sebastian Georgina was everything he ever wanted she was not just beautiful but she is caring and loving; and smart maybe even too smart for him. They were just a great couple and they just grew together throughout the book.

But the long six week wait until the wedding wasn't all easy. They dealt with a spurned suitor, an impatient little sister, a horde of pugs, and a governess with illusions of grandeur. Overall this was a very entertaining and romantic book and I have to say I loved what Sebastian's secret was, you don't see much of that.      

ARC REVIEW What the Duke Doesn't Know by Jane Ashford

The Duke's Sons book two, What the Duke Doesn't Know. It's a charming book with an okay storyline, James was great, Kawena was a little annoying at first but she was adjusting to English society and she became less annoying as the book went one. I liked that she was Polynesian, usually if the Author is doing a mixed race it Indian or Caribbean, or the author has the heroine American or Australian if they don't want her British. Now I have seen Spanish, French, and Eastern Europe or Russian but still I think this might be my first Polynesian, so it was something different for me and I really liked it. (I love the model on the cover, love her expression.)  

Kawena Benson traveled all the way from her little island in the South Pacific to find the man who stole her inheritance. Captain James Gresham and his ship were the only boat docked when Kawena's inheritance disappeared. Her father planned ahead for her future and stock piled jewels and gem stone, he died shortly after discovering them missing. Kawena fearless left home for the first time aboard a friend's ship dressed as a boy and traveled to England. Her initial intention was just to scare the man but when he rushed her the gun accidently went off, thankfully noone was hurt. James was visiting his brother in Oxford wondering what he would do with his life now that his ship has been decommissioned when the beautiful dark haired, dark eyed Kawena attacks him.

James and Kawena set off to find the real culprit but all their leads are dead ends. By a stroke of luck Kawena finds them, I'm not gonna tell you how. But that opens all society doors for her since the jewels are worth a veritable fortune now the "native girl" is the toast of the ton. Kawena wants to show James that she can be "Proper" since he has spent most of the book telling her everything she does isn't proper. Along with a friend and a chaperone Kawena rents a house in Oxford, she also has something big planned something just for James and her. Unfortunately her fortune also bring to light unwanted previously unknown family; her father's brother and his horrid family. But fortunately Kawena has friends in high places and James and his family are there to stand with her against them. If only James can convince Kawena he likes her just as she is and if Kawena will understand that James never wanted her to change.

Overall, the book was entertaining I liked it well enough. The first book Heir to the Duke and the third book Lord Sebastian's Secret run pretty much parallel with this one so there are references what's happening in the previous book and to the next one. I am however really looking forward to Flora and Robert's story.   

ARC REVIEW Jane Ashford: The Bargain and Heir to the Duke

The Bargain was originally released in 1997 and was re-released 2014. It's nothing what I expected and was pleasantly surprised by it. I haven't read Jane Ashford before and really enjoyed it. It has a little bit of everything I like romance, mystery, adventure. It's a tantalizing misadventure between an unconventional couple, the youngest son of a Duke and the daughter of an actress. It was an amusing read it's not everyday you read a romance where they are hunting ghosts at the request of the Prince Regent.

The youngest son of the Duke of Langford is the black sheep of the family. Lord Alan Gresham is the scholar of the family a scientist studying the properties of light; and as much as he hates London and socializing he must answer the Prince Regent summons. What the Prince Regent wants is preposterous, he wants Alan to find the ghost of a recently deceased actress. The ghost has inevitable crashed every party the Regent has thrown and is making him a laughing stock. The first party Alan attends the ghost shows up but he's not the only one chasing it. Ariel Harding was away at school when her mother committed suicide, she has come to London to deal with what is left of her mother's things and with the whisperings of her mother haunting the Regent she herself sneeks in to try and and see her mother. Ariel makes a bargain with Alan that she will help him in his search of the ghost if he helps her find out what really happened to her mother. But their investigation reveals more about Ariel's past then just what happened to her mother, and brings together the stuffy scholar and the daughter of an actress. Ariel does more than just win over Alan's heart but his families as well, with her wisdom from plays she advises Alan's older brothers and helps them with their love life problems.

Overall it was an entertaining and enjoyable read.

   Heir to the Duke is officially the first book of the Duke's Sons series, however it is the same family and brothers from The Bargain. The Bargain even has a bit about Nate and Violet and their engagement. Nate was perfect and Violet was aggravating but still entertaining. This one is about growth and discovery.

Violet's entire life has been ruled by her tyrannical, hateful grandmother. Violet's marriage to Viscount Hargrove will finally give her the freedom she needs to be who she wants to be. Nathaniel Gresham thought the shy and prim Violet would eventually make the perfect duchess, but soon after the wedding Violet began to change. Nate loves his home he loves working with his tenants and learning everything he needs to before he steps up to the title as Duke of Langford, but he also wants his new wife to be happy and agrees to her simple request of visiting Brighton for their wedding trip. But once they are their he doesn't know what happened to the shy and prim woman he married, he likes the changes he just doesn't want to lose her to the hypocritical ton society.

Violet made a list of things she has always wanted to do and was never before allowed to do. New wardrobe, check; fire her old critical termagant ladies maid, check; swim in the ocean, check; harmlessly flirt with a man, well maybe she should rethink that one. Violet's ways soon have her grandmother back at her doorstep trying to control her again. She also has an unwanted admirer trying a little to hard to seduce her. All the while Nate is enjoying his wife's transformation but he wants to go back home. Violet isn't going to let her grandmother take over her life again but a secret buried deep in her parents past comes out and Violet is scared she might lose everything including Nate. Violet just has to find her backbone and stand up to everyone and be who she wants.

Overall, this was a good read. I enjoyed it despite saying to myself throughout the whole book Dammit Violet.