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Turner #1.5
Seven Wicked Nights
Seven bestselling historical romance authors offer seven sexy stories featuring dukes, lords, rakes, scoundrels…and the unforgettable heroines who bring them to their knees. These stories range in length from long novellas to delectable little bites.
This limited edition boxed set contains over 170,000 words.
The contributions
Unlocked by Courtney Milan
Elaine Warren has resigned herself to life as a spinster and a wallflower, but when Evan Carlton, the Earl of Westfeld, returns after a long absence, she’s afraid that he plans to torment her as he did before. This time, though, she vows to show him that wallflowers can fight back…
When I Met my Duchess by Caroline Linden
Everyone expects the Duke of Wessex’s wedding to be the society event of the Season. But when the duke meets his future bride’s sister, he realizes he’s about to marry the wrong woman…and his wedding is about to become the scandal of the year.
How to Catch a Wild Viscount by Tessa Dare (originally published as The Legend of the Werestag)
Luke Trenton, Viscount Merritt, returned from battle a changed man, but Cecily Hale won’t be pushed away. She has only a few moonlit nights to reach the real Luke…the wounded heart she knows still beats inside the war-ravaged body…or she could lose him to the darkness forever.
One Starlit Night by Carolyn Jewel
Ten years away from Doyle’s Grange isn’t long enough for Viscount Northword to forget Portia Temple or their passionate adolescent affair. Portia, however, is about to marry another man…and Northword cannot help but interfere, with his words, his body, and the truths of his heart.
Claiming the Duchess by Sherry Thomas
Clarissa, the widowed Duchess of Lexington, has two great the reticent and reclusive Mr. James Kingston and her faithful correspondent Miss Julia Kirkland, whom Clarissa has never met. Now both Mr. Kingston and Miss Kirkland are due to arrive at Clarissa’s house—and Clarissa is about to find out that neither is as she has been led to believe…
The Misbehaving Marquess by Leigh LaValle
Having awaited the return of her husband for half a decade, Catherine Raybourne, the Marchioness of Foster, has no intention of reconciling with her misbehaving marquess. But when he insists he needs an heir—immediately—she must confront her own lingering desires. Can she protect her heart while attempting to win his once again?
Ruined by a Rake by Erin Knightley
Eleanor Abbington has always had a contentious and competitive relationship with Nicolas Norton. But when her uncle orders her to marry the man of his choosing, her old adversary becomes her only ally, and she may very well find herself…ruined by a rake.
This limited edition boxed set contains over 170,000 words.
The contributions
Unlocked by Courtney Milan
Elaine Warren has resigned herself to life as a spinster and a wallflower, but when Evan Carlton, the Earl of Westfeld, returns after a long absence, she’s afraid that he plans to torment her as he did before. This time, though, she vows to show him that wallflowers can fight back…
When I Met my Duchess by Caroline Linden
Everyone expects the Duke of Wessex’s wedding to be the society event of the Season. But when the duke meets his future bride’s sister, he realizes he’s about to marry the wrong woman…and his wedding is about to become the scandal of the year.
How to Catch a Wild Viscount by Tessa Dare (originally published as The Legend of the Werestag)
Luke Trenton, Viscount Merritt, returned from battle a changed man, but Cecily Hale won’t be pushed away. She has only a few moonlit nights to reach the real Luke…the wounded heart she knows still beats inside the war-ravaged body…or she could lose him to the darkness forever.
One Starlit Night by Carolyn Jewel
Ten years away from Doyle’s Grange isn’t long enough for Viscount Northword to forget Portia Temple or their passionate adolescent affair. Portia, however, is about to marry another man…and Northword cannot help but interfere, with his words, his body, and the truths of his heart.
Claiming the Duchess by Sherry Thomas
Clarissa, the widowed Duchess of Lexington, has two great the reticent and reclusive Mr. James Kingston and her faithful correspondent Miss Julia Kirkland, whom Clarissa has never met. Now both Mr. Kingston and Miss Kirkland are due to arrive at Clarissa’s house—and Clarissa is about to find out that neither is as she has been led to believe…
The Misbehaving Marquess by Leigh LaValle
Having awaited the return of her husband for half a decade, Catherine Raybourne, the Marchioness of Foster, has no intention of reconciling with her misbehaving marquess. But when he insists he needs an heir—immediately—she must confront her own lingering desires. Can she protect her heart while attempting to win his once again?
Ruined by a Rake by Erin Knightley
Eleanor Abbington has always had a contentious and competitive relationship with Nicolas Norton. But when her uncle orders her to marry the man of his choosing, her old adversary becomes her only ally, and she may very well find herself…ruined by a rake.
500 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 16, 2014
15 people are currently reading
841 people want to read
About the author
Courtney Milan
68 books5,484 followersCourtney Milan writes books about carriages, corsets, and smartwatches. Her books have received starred reviews in Publishers Weekly, Library Journal, and Booklist. She is a New York Times and a USA Today Bestseller.
Courtney pens a weekly newsletter about tea, books, and basically anything and everything else. Sign up for it here: https://bit.ly/CourtneysTea
Before she started writing romance, Courtney got a graduate degree in theoretical physical chemistry from UC Berkeley. After that, just to shake things up, she went to law school at the University of Michigan and graduated summa cum laude. Then she did a handful of clerkships. She was a law professor for a while. She now writes full-time.
Courtney is represented by Kristin Nelson of the Nelson Literary Agency.
Courtney pens a weekly newsletter about tea, books, and basically anything and everything else. Sign up for it here: https://bit.ly/CourtneysTea
Before she started writing romance, Courtney got a graduate degree in theoretical physical chemistry from UC Berkeley. After that, just to shake things up, she went to law school at the University of Michigan and graduated summa cum laude. Then she did a handful of clerkships. She was a law professor for a while. She now writes full-time.
Courtney is represented by Kristin Nelson of the Nelson Literary Agency.
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September 20, 2014Looking for some fun reading? Seven sexy historical romance novellas for $0.99! A fun way to find new-to-you authors. :)
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September 29, 2018Detailed bookwise rating to come.
December 18, 2014
Oh my love hate relationship with the romance novella continues. This anthology is a collection of novellas from a variety of talented historical romance. I’d read several of them when they were published separately (perhaps that should have been made more obvious) but in general, I really enjoyed each one of them - though some more than others. And' I'll be looking for more books by at least one of the new to me authors, Leigh LaValle.
Unlocked, Courtney Milan (#1) Read this one elsewhere
When I met my Duchess, Caroline Linden (#2)
Do you marry the woman whom you ought to marry, or the woman who drives you crazy with passion? That is the question addressed by this novella. Our hero, Gareth, the Duke of Wessex, recognizes it’s time he marries to start making the heir and the spare. So in a rather business like transaction, customary to the times now doubt, he arranges to marry Ms. Helen Grey, the perfect Duchess to be (though admittedly, I’m a little puzzled by some aspects of this, but I digress). It will be in his words, “elegant, refined and sensible.”
She arrives at his estate, occupied by his own crazy family, two weeks before the wedding with her family, mother, father and scandalous sister, Ms. Cleopatra Barrows. Ms. Barrows was a grave disappointment to her parents, having run off with a man she loved who was a mer merchant. He died, but she continued to operate his business to the chagrin of her parents, who nonetheless sustained themselves on the profits from that same business.
Gareth is thunderstruck the moment Cleo steps out of the carriage and we can all see where it goes from here. A delightful tale that highlights sisterly bonds, the nature of attraction, and the apparent hypocrisy of the English Aristocracy. (seriously, why did these people have such a strong aversion to actual work!)
How to Catch a Wild Viscount, Tessa Dare (#3) reviewed earlier
One Starlit Night, Carolyn Jewel (#4)
Probably my least favorite of the collection even though I generally enjoy this author. I constatntly kept repeating to myself, come on, come on, get on with it. Crispin and Portia were playmates growing up. They got older, hormones kicked in, hanky lanky ensued. But it didn’t work for them- not the right time, or something .I don’t know - I wasn’t that engaged They reconnect. We’re not attracted, but we are attracted . Yada yada.
Meh.
Claiming the Duchess, Sherry Thomas (# 5)
I do adore Ms. Thomas’ writing but this was not a favorite. Perhaps it would have been more interesting in long form. Our heroine, Clarissa, found herself in a loveless marriage. She meets a hot guy who stops to visit but doesn’t come back. She begins a correspondence with a woman she’s not met who asks for a clipping from her garden. They correspond for years. After her husband dies, she seeks to meet her correspondent, who is hesitant.
{Spoiler} It’s that guy she met who’d been writing all along, just trying to make her happy. Yeah, couldn’t see that coming. It’s fine, just not that enthralling.
The Misbehaving Marquess, Leigh Lavallle (#6)
I’ve not read anything by this author before but something about her style of writing just sucked me in - the wit, the richness. i’m glad the writing style was good, because not crazy about the trope - the married couple where the guy takes off for a number of years because he’s ticked off at the wife. After five years he shows up again because he needs an heir. yeah.
But despite all my skepticism, Ms. Lavalle manages to convince me the two should give their marriage another chance. Yey for a couple who can get past a lot of baggage (and thank you Ms. Lavalle for helping the hero realize what a twat he was!!!) and move on. Enjoyed it, even though I wanted to kick the hero several times.
Ruined by a Rake, Erin Knightley. (#7)
The title doesn’t provide a true picture of this brief story (probably the shortest of the seven). Our heroine, Eleanor, feels trapped. She’s twenty-five and an orphan, dependent on her Uncle ((brother of her mother) to survive. As Lords are want to do, he’s politically active and sees his nieces, Eleanor and her younger sister, as nothing more than tokens or pawns that can be used to purchase political favor. As the story begins, he’s given Eleanor an ultimatum - get engaged to one of the fat elderly lords at their house party, or he’ll bring home her more “biddable” sister and force her to do so.
Suddenly, her stepbrother shows up at the house party. The mercilessly teasing stepbrother who’s grown to quite a hot, well built commissioned officer. They spar verbally and with fencing foils, while he helps her regain her inner strength and make her ultimately recognize the mutual attraction between them.
It’s a story about the very pathetic choices women of the aristocracy often faced when it comes to marriage as well as finding your own inner strength to battle what seems like a foregone conclusion. I loved the friends to lover aspect and the feisty nature of the heroine and her female relatives. An enjoyable read.
Unlocked, Courtney Milan (#1) Read this one elsewhere
When I met my Duchess, Caroline Linden (#2)
Do you marry the woman whom you ought to marry, or the woman who drives you crazy with passion? That is the question addressed by this novella. Our hero, Gareth, the Duke of Wessex, recognizes it’s time he marries to start making the heir and the spare. So in a rather business like transaction, customary to the times now doubt, he arranges to marry Ms. Helen Grey, the perfect Duchess to be (though admittedly, I’m a little puzzled by some aspects of this, but I digress). It will be in his words, “elegant, refined and sensible.”
She arrives at his estate, occupied by his own crazy family, two weeks before the wedding with her family, mother, father and scandalous sister, Ms. Cleopatra Barrows. Ms. Barrows was a grave disappointment to her parents, having run off with a man she loved who was a mer merchant. He died, but she continued to operate his business to the chagrin of her parents, who nonetheless sustained themselves on the profits from that same business.
Gareth is thunderstruck the moment Cleo steps out of the carriage and we can all see where it goes from here. A delightful tale that highlights sisterly bonds, the nature of attraction, and the apparent hypocrisy of the English Aristocracy. (seriously, why did these people have such a strong aversion to actual work!)
How to Catch a Wild Viscount, Tessa Dare (#3) reviewed earlier
One Starlit Night, Carolyn Jewel (#4)
Probably my least favorite of the collection even though I generally enjoy this author. I constatntly kept repeating to myself, come on, come on, get on with it. Crispin and Portia were playmates growing up. They got older, hormones kicked in, hanky lanky ensued. But it didn’t work for them- not the right time, or something .I don’t know - I wasn’t that engaged They reconnect. We’re not attracted, but we are attracted . Yada yada.
Meh.
Claiming the Duchess, Sherry Thomas (# 5)
I do adore Ms. Thomas’ writing but this was not a favorite. Perhaps it would have been more interesting in long form. Our heroine, Clarissa, found herself in a loveless marriage. She meets a hot guy who stops to visit but doesn’t come back. She begins a correspondence with a woman she’s not met who asks for a clipping from her garden. They correspond for years. After her husband dies, she seeks to meet her correspondent, who is hesitant.
{Spoiler} It’s that guy she met who’d been writing all along, just trying to make her happy. Yeah, couldn’t see that coming. It’s fine, just not that enthralling.
The Misbehaving Marquess, Leigh Lavallle (#6)
I’ve not read anything by this author before but something about her style of writing just sucked me in - the wit, the richness. i’m glad the writing style was good, because not crazy about the trope - the married couple where the guy takes off for a number of years because he’s ticked off at the wife. After five years he shows up again because he needs an heir. yeah.
But despite all my skepticism, Ms. Lavalle manages to convince me the two should give their marriage another chance. Yey for a couple who can get past a lot of baggage (and thank you Ms. Lavalle for helping the hero realize what a twat he was!!!) and move on. Enjoyed it, even though I wanted to kick the hero several times.
Ruined by a Rake, Erin Knightley. (#7)
The title doesn’t provide a true picture of this brief story (probably the shortest of the seven). Our heroine, Eleanor, feels trapped. She’s twenty-five and an orphan, dependent on her Uncle ((brother of her mother) to survive. As Lords are want to do, he’s politically active and sees his nieces, Eleanor and her younger sister, as nothing more than tokens or pawns that can be used to purchase political favor. As the story begins, he’s given Eleanor an ultimatum - get engaged to one of the fat elderly lords at their house party, or he’ll bring home her more “biddable” sister and force her to do so.
Suddenly, her stepbrother shows up at the house party. The mercilessly teasing stepbrother who’s grown to quite a hot, well built commissioned officer. They spar verbally and with fencing foils, while he helps her regain her inner strength and make her ultimately recognize the mutual attraction between them.
It’s a story about the very pathetic choices women of the aristocracy often faced when it comes to marriage as well as finding your own inner strength to battle what seems like a foregone conclusion. I loved the friends to lover aspect and the feisty nature of the heroine and her female relatives. An enjoyable read.
October 16, 2019
An excellent anthology of gorgeous stories from some of my favourite authors and some new-to-me ones whose work I will now have to seek out.
Unlocked by Courtney Milan – 5 stars. Full review here
When I Met My Duchess by Caroline Linden – 4.5 stars. Full review here
How To Catch A Wild Viscount by Tessa Dare – 5 stars. Full review here
One Starlit Night by Carolyn Jewel – 4 stars. Full review here
Claiming the Duchess by Sherry Thomas – 4 stars. Full review here
The Misbehaving Marquess by Leigh LaValle – 4 stars. Full review here
Ruined by a Rake by Erin Knightley – 4 stars. Full review here
Unlocked by Courtney Milan – 5 stars. Full review here
When I Met My Duchess by Caroline Linden – 4.5 stars. Full review here
How To Catch A Wild Viscount by Tessa Dare – 5 stars. Full review here
One Starlit Night by Carolyn Jewel – 4 stars. Full review here
Claiming the Duchess by Sherry Thomas – 4 stars. Full review here
The Misbehaving Marquess by Leigh LaValle – 4 stars. Full review here
Ruined by a Rake by Erin Knightley – 4 stars. Full review here
October 2, 2014
Great read. 7 Different short stories. 3 of my favorite authors are in here too......Mrs. Knightley, Mrs. Milan & Mrs. Dare.
September 26, 2023
Unlocked Unlocked by Courtney Milan 5*
A story a Elaine & Evan & of second chances. When you are young, you sometimes do stupid things. But when you are older, wiser then few can gather the courage of accept the wrong. This is a sweet story of two people who became lover from being enemy. I would have loved their story as a full length novel, but, this novella is sweet too.
When I Met My Duchess When I Met my Duchess by Caroline Linden 5*
How I loved the book! & it ended pretty early. Gareth & Cleo are meant to be together. So does Helen & James. I wish, I could get them to know better.
How to Catch a Wild Viscount How to Catch a Wild Viscount by Tessa Dare (originally published as The Legend of the Werestag) 4*
Luke was a damaged soul being a soldier & fought for his life in the war. Cecily is a sweet and brave girl. She has been in love with Luke for the last four years & Oh! the wait was successful. I loved the other characters too specially Denny. He deserved his share of happiness too.
One Starlit Night One Starlit Night by Carolyn Jewel 4*
The story started slow & then eventually start making sense. I didnot like Crispin at the begining, as I thought him he cheated on Portia. He got married when Portia had been pining for him. But, then I get to know their story & I felt for him. They were young. I liked Crispin at the end. I also like Magnus. He is a artist & not very practical & oblivious about his sister & his best friend. I was two minds about Eleanor. whether to like or or dislike her. She strongly believes that what she thinks is the only right thing. But she is not a bad person. I liked Portia throughout. I wish to know about their story more.
Claiming the Duchess Claiming the Duchess by Sherry Thomas 2*
I know this is a novella, but a little character development of each character would have been appreciated. Clarissa & her stepson Christopher's chemistry was beautifully depicted. But, there was no description of Mr. Kingston at all. The plot twist was predictable from the very beginning, to be honest, from the synopsis. I am not even sure whether Mr. Kingston had any real feelings for Clarissa! This is an incomplete book.
The Misbehaving Marquess The Misbehaving Marquess by Leigh LaValle 3*
I love second chance romance. Jamie & Cat were in love & due to misunderstanding they were apart for 5years. Cat was young & she made a mistake. Jamie was young & proud & did a mistake of leaving his wife. But, when there is love, it conquers all. It's a sweet story but there is something missing in the writing. I liked it but didn't love it.
Ruined by a Rake Ruined by a Rake by Erin Knightley 5*
Eleanor & Nicholas are both lovable characters. It started as a slow read because Ellie was afraid of his uncle, but then Nicholas came & make her the fighter she actually is. The book gain momentum eventually. I loved Nicholas. He is a rogue, a very very sweet rogue who had always been in love with Eleanor. I hated Uncle Robert because he is a true villain in the story. & then there is Aunt Margaret, the saviour. I loved her at the end. This book stole my heart.
A story a Elaine & Evan & of second chances. When you are young, you sometimes do stupid things. But when you are older, wiser then few can gather the courage of accept the wrong. This is a sweet story of two people who became lover from being enemy. I would have loved their story as a full length novel, but, this novella is sweet too.
When I Met My Duchess When I Met my Duchess by Caroline Linden 5*
How I loved the book! & it ended pretty early. Gareth & Cleo are meant to be together. So does Helen & James. I wish, I could get them to know better.
How to Catch a Wild Viscount How to Catch a Wild Viscount by Tessa Dare (originally published as The Legend of the Werestag) 4*
Luke was a damaged soul being a soldier & fought for his life in the war. Cecily is a sweet and brave girl. She has been in love with Luke for the last four years & Oh! the wait was successful. I loved the other characters too specially Denny. He deserved his share of happiness too.
One Starlit Night One Starlit Night by Carolyn Jewel 4*
The story started slow & then eventually start making sense. I didnot like Crispin at the begining, as I thought him he cheated on Portia. He got married when Portia had been pining for him. But, then I get to know their story & I felt for him. They were young. I liked Crispin at the end. I also like Magnus. He is a artist & not very practical & oblivious about his sister & his best friend. I was two minds about Eleanor. whether to like or or dislike her. She strongly believes that what she thinks is the only right thing. But she is not a bad person. I liked Portia throughout. I wish to know about their story more.
Claiming the Duchess Claiming the Duchess by Sherry Thomas 2*
I know this is a novella, but a little character development of each character would have been appreciated. Clarissa & her stepson Christopher's chemistry was beautifully depicted. But, there was no description of Mr. Kingston at all. The plot twist was predictable from the very beginning, to be honest, from the synopsis. I am not even sure whether Mr. Kingston had any real feelings for Clarissa! This is an incomplete book.
The Misbehaving Marquess The Misbehaving Marquess by Leigh LaValle 3*
I love second chance romance. Jamie & Cat were in love & due to misunderstanding they were apart for 5years. Cat was young & she made a mistake. Jamie was young & proud & did a mistake of leaving his wife. But, when there is love, it conquers all. It's a sweet story but there is something missing in the writing. I liked it but didn't love it.
Ruined by a Rake Ruined by a Rake by Erin Knightley 5*
Eleanor & Nicholas are both lovable characters. It started as a slow read because Ellie was afraid of his uncle, but then Nicholas came & make her the fighter she actually is. The book gain momentum eventually. I loved Nicholas. He is a rogue, a very very sweet rogue who had always been in love with Eleanor. I hated Uncle Robert because he is a true villain in the story. & then there is Aunt Margaret, the saviour. I loved her at the end. This book stole my heart.
January 31, 2015
original post at: http://ramblingsfromthischick.blogspo...
Seven Wicked Nights is a collection of short stories by seven different authors. The stories are all historical romances. These authors are all well-known and some of these stories were their earlier work. I thought this was a nice collection and a great way to experience different authors in one collection.
Unlocked, by Courtney Milan
Three Stars
I read this short story a while back. It was one of the first introductions I had to Milan. After reading this I read a lot of her other books. I loved its originality. Elaine Warren was a really great heroine. She is considered a spinster. All her season she was bullied and harassed by her peers. One of them Evan Carlton. When Evan reappears after having left society to mourn the death of his brother he is a very changed man. Honestly, he was a real jerk before. Him and his cousin Diana use to harass Elaine because she was really quirky and she has a very unique laugh. I really liked Elaine but she was definitely a special type of heroine. Evan realizes that he was a terrible persona and goes out of his way to make amends to Elaine, in the process he can’t help but fall in love with her. I enjoyed re-reading this short story and was reminded of why I like Milan. She always tells stories like no other. Her characters are never perfect but always engrossing. I liked Elaine and Evan’s chemistry, also. They really built a friendship and then a relationship and Evan does become a true gentleman.
When I Met my Duchess, by Caroline Linden
Three Stars
This was my first time reading Caroline Linden and it was an enjoyable experience. The story quickly begins with an upcoming wedding. The Duke of Wessex’s is about to get married, fortunately or unfortunately things don’t go as planned. When Wessex meets his fiancé he is more interested in her widowed sister than his intended bride. Cleo was a fun heroine. She is happy for Helen and her upcoming wedding. Cleo is the black sheep of the family. Her parents don’t approve of her because she eloped with a working man and she runs a shop. Her parents are quick to disdain her and are really brutal in their treatment of her. Their only consolation is that Helen will marry Wessex. Wessex is a proper gentleman and is ready to do his duty but Cleo is really the sister who his attention gravitates to and the woman that interests him. Even though the both deny it, they are in love with each other. Cleo and Helen’s parents are none too happy when they realize that Cleo has won Wessex’s heart. I didn’t think that Cleo and Wessex had great chemistry but they were a sweet couple and it was enjoyable to watch them fall in love.
How to Catch a Wild Viscount, by Tessa Dare (originally published as The Legend of the Werestag)
Four Stars
This was one of my favorite stories in the collection. I loved the characters and their unfulfilled story. Luke is a wounded solider. Years before heading to fight against Napoleon he gives Cecily Hade a kiss. Throughout the four years he was fighting that kiss kept him sane and fighting to stay alive. Luke returns a wounded man. The war has affected him and even though he still loves Cecily he does not think he deserves her. He goes out of his way to seem indifferent and nonresponsive to Cecily. When Cecily is in the forest with a hunting party she is attacked by an animal and saved by a mystery man. It was obvious who the mystery man was but Cecily lets Luke believe that she doesn’t know. Although Cecily begins the story wounded and alone she transforms into a stronger woman. She realizes that she is not going to sit back and lose Luke again. Their story was so sweet my heart ached for them. Both Luke and Cecily were incredibly sweet and loving characters. The secondary characters were also fun. Instances like these it would be better for the story to be longer because there was a lot more that could have been added. But this was my favorite story and I really enjoyed it.
One Starlit Night, by Carolyn Jewel
Three stars
This story was really intense. Portia and Lord Northword were a very interesting couple. They grew up together and were each other’s first love. Through a series of events Northwood ends up married and eventually widowed. Portia never married but is feeling the pressure from her sister-in-law to make a match and find her own home. Portia carries a big secret and wound inside of her. I really liked her and felt bad for her situation. Lord Northword was also an enjoyable character but he was harder to understand. Although Portia forgave him, I had a harder time feeling compassion for him. Eventually realizing that she and Northword were not meant to be Portia begins to contemplate a marriage to another person. Do Portia and Northword eventually get their happily-ever-after? It was an interesting ending.
Claiming the Duchess, by Sherry Thomas
Sherry Thomas is one of my favorite authors. I really enjoy her work and “Claiming the Duchess” was no exception. This was a very short story, probably the shortest of the collection but it did not make it less enjoyable. When the story begins Clarissa is married to a man that does not make her happy. The only comfort she has is her stepson, whom she adores. She meets Mr. James Kingston at an event and feels a strong attraction to him. But because she is married she does not act on her feelings. Four years later she is a widow and is hosting a gathering at her house. She invites James under the excuse that someone else wants him there. During the years of her marriage she developed a friendship via letters with a Miss Julia Kirkland. During this gathering she will finally meet her friend. When Clarissa and James meet again their feelings have not changed and now there is nothing standing in their way. This was a great read and the characters had great chemistry.
The Misbehaving Marquess, by Leigh LaValle
Three Stars
Catherine Raybourne, the Marchioness of Foster, was abandoned by her husband a short time after getting married. Through a series of misunderstandings Jaime, her husband believes that she had an affair. Jaime is devastated because Catherine has always been the love of his life. He leaves her and goes off to travel the world, never once sending even a letter. Catherine realizes that she made a mistake when she is caught in an unflattering situation but she is never given the chance to explain what really happened to Jaime. When his family is left without an heir, he has to return home and tell his wife that they need an heir. Catherine is ready to end their marriage and has an annulment drawn up. Overall this was a sweet story but the misunderstanding seemed a little week. I enjoyed the story and liked the main characters but found some holes in the excuse that Jaime gave for leaving.
Ruined by a Rake, by Erin Knightley
Eleanor Abbington is happily a spinster. She is content with her life and more than happy on the shelf. When her uncle has other plans for her she is desperate for a solution. Nicolas Norton is back home and ready to see Eleanor. They grew up together and were tomboys and the best of friends. Throughout the years they have never seen each other as a boy and a girl but when Nick learns that Eleanor is going to be married he quickly realizes that he is not ready to lose her to another man. Nick and Eleanor were really sweet, my only complaint is that they didn’t have as much chemistry as I would have liked. But overall it was an enjoyable story.
These stories were all very sweet. Most of the hero’s and heroines grew up together and realized that their feelings changed. One of my favorite aspects of this collection is the diverse authors. All of them have a very unique way to tell a love story and all were very individual. This was a fun read.
Seven Wicked Nights is a collection of short stories by seven different authors. The stories are all historical romances. These authors are all well-known and some of these stories were their earlier work. I thought this was a nice collection and a great way to experience different authors in one collection.
Unlocked, by Courtney Milan
Three Stars
I read this short story a while back. It was one of the first introductions I had to Milan. After reading this I read a lot of her other books. I loved its originality. Elaine Warren was a really great heroine. She is considered a spinster. All her season she was bullied and harassed by her peers. One of them Evan Carlton. When Evan reappears after having left society to mourn the death of his brother he is a very changed man. Honestly, he was a real jerk before. Him and his cousin Diana use to harass Elaine because she was really quirky and she has a very unique laugh. I really liked Elaine but she was definitely a special type of heroine. Evan realizes that he was a terrible persona and goes out of his way to make amends to Elaine, in the process he can’t help but fall in love with her. I enjoyed re-reading this short story and was reminded of why I like Milan. She always tells stories like no other. Her characters are never perfect but always engrossing. I liked Elaine and Evan’s chemistry, also. They really built a friendship and then a relationship and Evan does become a true gentleman.
When I Met my Duchess, by Caroline Linden
Three Stars
This was my first time reading Caroline Linden and it was an enjoyable experience. The story quickly begins with an upcoming wedding. The Duke of Wessex’s is about to get married, fortunately or unfortunately things don’t go as planned. When Wessex meets his fiancé he is more interested in her widowed sister than his intended bride. Cleo was a fun heroine. She is happy for Helen and her upcoming wedding. Cleo is the black sheep of the family. Her parents don’t approve of her because she eloped with a working man and she runs a shop. Her parents are quick to disdain her and are really brutal in their treatment of her. Their only consolation is that Helen will marry Wessex. Wessex is a proper gentleman and is ready to do his duty but Cleo is really the sister who his attention gravitates to and the woman that interests him. Even though the both deny it, they are in love with each other. Cleo and Helen’s parents are none too happy when they realize that Cleo has won Wessex’s heart. I didn’t think that Cleo and Wessex had great chemistry but they were a sweet couple and it was enjoyable to watch them fall in love.
How to Catch a Wild Viscount, by Tessa Dare (originally published as The Legend of the Werestag)
Four Stars
This was one of my favorite stories in the collection. I loved the characters and their unfulfilled story. Luke is a wounded solider. Years before heading to fight against Napoleon he gives Cecily Hade a kiss. Throughout the four years he was fighting that kiss kept him sane and fighting to stay alive. Luke returns a wounded man. The war has affected him and even though he still loves Cecily he does not think he deserves her. He goes out of his way to seem indifferent and nonresponsive to Cecily. When Cecily is in the forest with a hunting party she is attacked by an animal and saved by a mystery man. It was obvious who the mystery man was but Cecily lets Luke believe that she doesn’t know. Although Cecily begins the story wounded and alone she transforms into a stronger woman. She realizes that she is not going to sit back and lose Luke again. Their story was so sweet my heart ached for them. Both Luke and Cecily were incredibly sweet and loving characters. The secondary characters were also fun. Instances like these it would be better for the story to be longer because there was a lot more that could have been added. But this was my favorite story and I really enjoyed it.
One Starlit Night, by Carolyn Jewel
Three stars
This story was really intense. Portia and Lord Northword were a very interesting couple. They grew up together and were each other’s first love. Through a series of events Northwood ends up married and eventually widowed. Portia never married but is feeling the pressure from her sister-in-law to make a match and find her own home. Portia carries a big secret and wound inside of her. I really liked her and felt bad for her situation. Lord Northword was also an enjoyable character but he was harder to understand. Although Portia forgave him, I had a harder time feeling compassion for him. Eventually realizing that she and Northword were not meant to be Portia begins to contemplate a marriage to another person. Do Portia and Northword eventually get their happily-ever-after? It was an interesting ending.
Claiming the Duchess, by Sherry Thomas
Sherry Thomas is one of my favorite authors. I really enjoy her work and “Claiming the Duchess” was no exception. This was a very short story, probably the shortest of the collection but it did not make it less enjoyable. When the story begins Clarissa is married to a man that does not make her happy. The only comfort she has is her stepson, whom she adores. She meets Mr. James Kingston at an event and feels a strong attraction to him. But because she is married she does not act on her feelings. Four years later she is a widow and is hosting a gathering at her house. She invites James under the excuse that someone else wants him there. During the years of her marriage she developed a friendship via letters with a Miss Julia Kirkland. During this gathering she will finally meet her friend. When Clarissa and James meet again their feelings have not changed and now there is nothing standing in their way. This was a great read and the characters had great chemistry.
The Misbehaving Marquess, by Leigh LaValle
Three Stars
Catherine Raybourne, the Marchioness of Foster, was abandoned by her husband a short time after getting married. Through a series of misunderstandings Jaime, her husband believes that she had an affair. Jaime is devastated because Catherine has always been the love of his life. He leaves her and goes off to travel the world, never once sending even a letter. Catherine realizes that she made a mistake when she is caught in an unflattering situation but she is never given the chance to explain what really happened to Jaime. When his family is left without an heir, he has to return home and tell his wife that they need an heir. Catherine is ready to end their marriage and has an annulment drawn up. Overall this was a sweet story but the misunderstanding seemed a little week. I enjoyed the story and liked the main characters but found some holes in the excuse that Jaime gave for leaving.
Ruined by a Rake, by Erin Knightley
Eleanor Abbington is happily a spinster. She is content with her life and more than happy on the shelf. When her uncle has other plans for her she is desperate for a solution. Nicolas Norton is back home and ready to see Eleanor. They grew up together and were tomboys and the best of friends. Throughout the years they have never seen each other as a boy and a girl but when Nick learns that Eleanor is going to be married he quickly realizes that he is not ready to lose her to another man. Nick and Eleanor were really sweet, my only complaint is that they didn’t have as much chemistry as I would have liked. But overall it was an enjoyable story.
These stories were all very sweet. Most of the hero’s and heroines grew up together and realized that their feelings changed. One of my favorite aspects of this collection is the diverse authors. All of them have a very unique way to tell a love story and all were very individual. This was a fun read.
August 23, 2020
I can see myself returning to this book in the future. I really enjoyed almost all the novellas and would definitely repeat some of them.
Unlocked - Courtney Milan
This made an excellent start to the book. I loved this one. In a short novella, Elaine's pain from her past was quite evident, so was Evan's guilt and his feelings towards Elaine. None of it seemed sudden and it made it all perfect. (5/5)
When I Met My Duchess - Caroline Linden
This novella was a joy to read as well. I just loved how Gareth instantly falls for Cleo at first sight, all beyond his power and how helplessly he is attracted to her. It was a really sweet novella and I am most definitely reading the others part of the story. (5/5)
How To Catch a Wild Viscount - Tessa Dare
Since I already this one and i wasn't exactly a favourite, I skipped it.
One Starlit Night - Carolyn Jewel
After the success of the previous 2 enjoyable novellas, this fell disappointingly short. It felt abrupt, not much details on their emotions and way too irritating at some parts, especially any part to do with the sister-in-law, who, in no way, seemed liked an angel. (2/5)
Claiming The Duchess - Sherry Thomas
This was slap, bang, done! I hadn't even realized I was done with it until I went to the next page and was faced with the end. It was cute, I admit, although I would've liked the mystery friend trope to go a bit longer. (3/5)
The Misbehaving Marquess - Leigh LaValle
I also read this one so I skipped it as well.
Ruined By a Rake - Erin Knightley
This last novella was a satisfactory end to all the stories. It was sweet, enemies-to-lovers, it had the typical Erin Knightley humour and drama and I loved it. (5/5)
Unlocked - Courtney Milan
This made an excellent start to the book. I loved this one. In a short novella, Elaine's pain from her past was quite evident, so was Evan's guilt and his feelings towards Elaine. None of it seemed sudden and it made it all perfect. (5/5)
When I Met My Duchess - Caroline Linden
This novella was a joy to read as well. I just loved how Gareth instantly falls for Cleo at first sight, all beyond his power and how helplessly he is attracted to her. It was a really sweet novella and I am most definitely reading the others part of the story. (5/5)
How To Catch a Wild Viscount - Tessa Dare
Since I already this one and i wasn't exactly a favourite, I skipped it.
One Starlit Night - Carolyn Jewel
After the success of the previous 2 enjoyable novellas, this fell disappointingly short. It felt abrupt, not much details on their emotions and way too irritating at some parts, especially any part to do with the sister-in-law, who, in no way, seemed liked an angel. (2/5)
Claiming The Duchess - Sherry Thomas
This was slap, bang, done! I hadn't even realized I was done with it until I went to the next page and was faced with the end. It was cute, I admit, although I would've liked the mystery friend trope to go a bit longer. (3/5)
The Misbehaving Marquess - Leigh LaValle
I also read this one so I skipped it as well.
Ruined By a Rake - Erin Knightley
This last novella was a satisfactory end to all the stories. It was sweet, enemies-to-lovers, it had the typical Erin Knightley humour and drama and I loved it. (5/5)
September 30, 2014
There are a lot of boxed sets available now on Amazon and iBooks. Romances, mysteries , paranormals and gothics galore between the $2.99-99 cent price point. In the past, I have bought a few of these book bundles and liked one or two of the stories. I hit the jackpot with Seven Wicked Nights.
Seven Wicked Nights contains seven stories from authors Courtney Milan, Caroline Linden, Tessa Dare, Carolyn Jewel, Sherry Thomas, Leigh LaValle and Erin Knightley. Each contribution varies in length from four chapters to 13 chapters. Each story is unique and complete. With a total of 170,000 words the book is comparable to two-full length novels well -worth the 99 cent investment
Anthology Review:
I had read the short stories by authors Courtney Milan and Erin Knightley and enjoyed re-reading them. enjoyed each story especially One Starlit Night by Carolyn Jewel and Claiming The Duchess by Sherry Thomas
I have read and listened to the audio version of Courtney Milan's Unlocked. It's such an interesting tale of people, first impressions and the path to forgiveness and acceptance. I bought the novella when it was on super special. I was impressed by Ms. Milan's writing and have bought and read each of Ms Milan's books.
Several of Caroline Linden's books on my kindle and I have not made the time to read them. I was curious to see if I would enjoy Ms. Linden's contribution When I met My Duchess. I loved this story of a busy Duke who sent his man of business to propose to one sister only to be captivated by her older widowed sister. Enjoyed how Ms Linden crafted the story of Gareth and Cleo's unlikely romance and how it played out. The minor characters were enjoyable and added to the story. This short story was part of the At The Duke's Wedding anthology, I loved this story so much that I plan to buy the original anthology
Tessa Dare is one of my must - read authors. Enjoyed reading How to Catch A Wild Viscount. Cecily is a strong heroine. She has waited four years for Luke to come home from the war. Luke returned changed by his wartime experiences. I was immediately drawn to the story when Cecily thought Oh, Luke. What has happenned to you ? Can she convince him to move forward with her?
I adored Catherine Rayborne, the heroine in Leigh LaValles The Misbehaving Marquess. Catherine made a new life for herself when her husband Jamie left her and travelled for five years without contacting her. She cared for the villagers and tenants and was rebuilding cottages so that widows and their children should have a safe place to live. Catherine is not the young , immature wife that Jamie left behind. Will he fall in love with the more mature , self confident Catherine? Can Catherine forgive Jamie? The events that take place in the final three chapters of this short story are filled with some unexpected surprises.
Erin Knighley's Ruined By Rake is one of my favorite novellas. I have read it several times.
Seven Wicked Nights contains seven stories from authors Courtney Milan, Caroline Linden, Tessa Dare, Carolyn Jewel, Sherry Thomas, Leigh LaValle and Erin Knightley. Each contribution varies in length from four chapters to 13 chapters. Each story is unique and complete. With a total of 170,000 words the book is comparable to two-full length novels well -worth the 99 cent investment
Anthology Review:
I had read the short stories by authors Courtney Milan and Erin Knightley and enjoyed re-reading them. enjoyed each story especially One Starlit Night by Carolyn Jewel and Claiming The Duchess by Sherry Thomas
I have read and listened to the audio version of Courtney Milan's Unlocked. It's such an interesting tale of people, first impressions and the path to forgiveness and acceptance. I bought the novella when it was on super special. I was impressed by Ms. Milan's writing and have bought and read each of Ms Milan's books.
Several of Caroline Linden's books on my kindle and I have not made the time to read them. I was curious to see if I would enjoy Ms. Linden's contribution When I met My Duchess. I loved this story of a busy Duke who sent his man of business to propose to one sister only to be captivated by her older widowed sister. Enjoyed how Ms Linden crafted the story of Gareth and Cleo's unlikely romance and how it played out. The minor characters were enjoyable and added to the story. This short story was part of the At The Duke's Wedding anthology, I loved this story so much that I plan to buy the original anthology
Tessa Dare is one of my must - read authors. Enjoyed reading How to Catch A Wild Viscount. Cecily is a strong heroine. She has waited four years for Luke to come home from the war. Luke returned changed by his wartime experiences. I was immediately drawn to the story when Cecily thought Oh, Luke. What has happenned to you ? Can she convince him to move forward with her?
One Starlit Night by Carolyn Jewel captivated me. I was immediately drawn to the heroine and hero, Portia Temple and Crispin Hope, Viscount Northword. Portia and Crispen were in love ten years ago. Crispin married someone else and is now a widower. Portia is about to marry a local man to escape her awful sister-in-law Eleanor. This second chance at love story is told with
compassion and understanding. I loved it and I teared up at the end of the novel.
Claiming the Duchess by Sherry Thomas is an excellent albeit short read. The reader meets Clarissa , the Duchess of Lexington as she is thinking about hiding her stepson's fossils from her husband. Clarissa is interrupted by her husband, his friend Lord Hatchford and Hatchford's cousin Mr. James Kingston who are visiting guests. A few days after the house party ends , Clariisa receives a letter and begins a correspondence with Julia Kirkland. Loved how the letters told the story of their friendship over a four - year period. During this time, the Duke dies, Clarissa thinks about Mr. Kingston and satisfies her mourning duties and throws another house party where she's invited Julia and Mr. Kingston. The last chapter is written with heart and feeling.....I only wish it was a bit longer.
Claiming the Duchess by Sherry Thomas is an excellent albeit short read. The reader meets Clarissa , the Duchess of Lexington as she is thinking about hiding her stepson's fossils from her husband. Clarissa is interrupted by her husband, his friend Lord Hatchford and Hatchford's cousin Mr. James Kingston who are visiting guests. A few days after the house party ends , Clariisa receives a letter and begins a correspondence with Julia Kirkland. Loved how the letters told the story of their friendship over a four - year period. During this time, the Duke dies, Clarissa thinks about Mr. Kingston and satisfies her mourning duties and throws another house party where she's invited Julia and Mr. Kingston. The last chapter is written with heart and feeling.....I only wish it was a bit longer.
I adored Catherine Rayborne, the heroine in Leigh LaValles The Misbehaving Marquess. Catherine made a new life for herself when her husband Jamie left her and travelled for five years without contacting her. She cared for the villagers and tenants and was rebuilding cottages so that widows and their children should have a safe place to live. Catherine is not the young , immature wife that Jamie left behind. Will he fall in love with the more mature , self confident Catherine? Can Catherine forgive Jamie? The events that take place in the final three chapters of this short story are filled with some unexpected surprises.
Erin Knighley's Ruined By Rake is one of my favorite novellas. I have read it several times.
Love the characters of Eleanor and Nicholas from their first kiss! This couple starts out as friendly rivals who love to spar verbally and fence with swords. The dialogue during the fencing scenes is superb! The reader could see that this couple had feelings for each other!! Loved how Ms. Knightley crafted this well written romance!
I recommend this boxed set to anyone who enjoys a great romance novel or two or seven!
September 2, 2018
A great compilation, enjoyed all the stories and it has left me hunting for other books by the authors.
January 1, 2020
They were pleasant and easy reading, but very typical romance. Even for short fiction. Can't say I enjoyed reading this one, unfortunately.
February 19, 2016
This is one of those books where you can pick and choose which stories to read first, etc. It's a great in-between or quickie reading. I am not familiar with many of the writers here but i think these kind of books are great as samplers. You get to reads short stories from different writers and decide which one or style you like best. The you can move on to more substantial stories from the same writers.
I'm giving the book a 3-star because the stories are hit and miss to me. Some were downright excruciating to finish and some are very enjoyable. So i'm going to give short comments on each story:
Unlocked:
Ok. I've read this story before and i skipped this one. I think i gave lots of stars for this.
When I Met My Duchess:
I loved this one. The story is cute and funny and told in a very fast-paced engaging way. It doesn't really waste too much time and feelings and dilemma but just rolls on to what happens next and next and so on. The hero is panicking that he'd just decided on the wrong sister to be his wife, the heroine is devastated that she's fallen for her sister's fiance. So okay the premise is not very original but the story reads beautifully.
4-stars
How To Catch a Wild Viscount:
I have to be honest. I just don't like the writing style and i don't like the characters. Too much back and forth of "i want but I don't want to" and "I can't but I want so much". It got tedious after a few chapters. The dilemma and drama's laid on too thick. The heroine comes across as desperate, a bit foolish and impulsive. And it was never really explained fully what's holding up the hero but he's this sarcastic broody fellow who's maul the girl whenever he can. Annoying.
1-star
One Starlit Night:
Another one that is almost like the one before. The lady doth protest too much but is quick to jump into the hero's arms. And the hero is just dawdling and suffering for i don't know what reason. But they did not waste time on getting it on somehow. So to be fair, they have some bad history but it's all sorted out immediately once they opened up and filled in the blanks. I found the story tedious but the characters in it are stars of their own - for example: the sister-in-law reminds me of Nurse Pratchett - all innocent smiles and smooth persuasion but is actually devious and manipulative - scary.
2-stars
Claiming the Duchess:
This is one of those "awww so sweet" kind of stories where friends become lovers. An unhappy married woman befriends a woman through letters. Not long after she became a widow. The friendship spanned for many years and one day the friend turns up to meet her. No surprises here actually but the way the story unfolds is very endearing and the characters are solid. Enjoyed the story.
3-stars
The Misbehaving Marquess:
A story on misunderstandings and injured pride. The MCs were very much in love, got married but soon after had a four year separation because of a scandal that was not really something too detrimental but nonetheless hurt the delicate male pride. So now the husband is back because he needs heirs. What a douche.
But it is an engaging story nonetheless, we see how the heroine is repentant of her inconsiderate behaviour and the hero grovels for his wife's love again. Nice.
3-stars
Ruined by a Rake:
Terrible title that's vague and doesn't do justice for the story. But the story is really adorable and entertaining. Eleanor and Nicolas are step-cousins (which took out the ickiness of cousins falling hard for one another). He's always been the pesky boy growing up, they quarrel and insult one another but they've always had each other's company. Now she's being forced into a political marriage and someone needs to rescue her. Great writing, fast-paced and smooth. Enjoyed it immensely.
4-stars
So that's it. My take on the stories. So now i am going to check out some their books and see if it's as good as the shorties here.
I'm giving the book a 3-star because the stories are hit and miss to me. Some were downright excruciating to finish and some are very enjoyable. So i'm going to give short comments on each story:
Unlocked:
Ok. I've read this story before and i skipped this one. I think i gave lots of stars for this.
When I Met My Duchess:
I loved this one. The story is cute and funny and told in a very fast-paced engaging way. It doesn't really waste too much time and feelings and dilemma but just rolls on to what happens next and next and so on. The hero is panicking that he'd just decided on the wrong sister to be his wife, the heroine is devastated that she's fallen for her sister's fiance. So okay the premise is not very original but the story reads beautifully.
4-stars
How To Catch a Wild Viscount:
I have to be honest. I just don't like the writing style and i don't like the characters. Too much back and forth of "i want but I don't want to" and "I can't but I want so much". It got tedious after a few chapters. The dilemma and drama's laid on too thick. The heroine comes across as desperate, a bit foolish and impulsive. And it was never really explained fully what's holding up the hero but he's this sarcastic broody fellow who's maul the girl whenever he can. Annoying.
1-star
One Starlit Night:
Another one that is almost like the one before. The lady doth protest too much but is quick to jump into the hero's arms. And the hero is just dawdling and suffering for i don't know what reason. But they did not waste time on getting it on somehow. So to be fair, they have some bad history but it's all sorted out immediately once they opened up and filled in the blanks. I found the story tedious but the characters in it are stars of their own - for example: the sister-in-law reminds me of Nurse Pratchett - all innocent smiles and smooth persuasion but is actually devious and manipulative - scary.
2-stars
Claiming the Duchess:
This is one of those "awww so sweet" kind of stories where friends become lovers. An unhappy married woman befriends a woman through letters. Not long after she became a widow. The friendship spanned for many years and one day the friend turns up to meet her. No surprises here actually but the way the story unfolds is very endearing and the characters are solid. Enjoyed the story.
3-stars
The Misbehaving Marquess:
A story on misunderstandings and injured pride. The MCs were very much in love, got married but soon after had a four year separation because of a scandal that was not really something too detrimental but nonetheless hurt the delicate male pride. So now the husband is back because he needs heirs. What a douche.
But it is an engaging story nonetheless, we see how the heroine is repentant of her inconsiderate behaviour and the hero grovels for his wife's love again. Nice.
3-stars
Ruined by a Rake:
Terrible title that's vague and doesn't do justice for the story. But the story is really adorable and entertaining. Eleanor and Nicolas are step-cousins (which took out the ickiness of cousins falling hard for one another). He's always been the pesky boy growing up, they quarrel and insult one another but they've always had each other's company. Now she's being forced into a political marriage and someone needs to rescue her. Great writing, fast-paced and smooth. Enjoyed it immensely.
4-stars
So that's it. My take on the stories. So now i am going to check out some their books and see if it's as good as the shorties here.
November 29, 2014
“Unlocked,” by Courtney Milan *****
Courtney Milan was the only author of this anthology that I’d already read (The Duchess War) and I left her novella for the last. I enjoyed it far, far more than The Duchess War and I was lucky enough to be able to read it all in a row in one day. I trembled when I saw Evan taking a rope out of his backpack (there’s nothing like BDSM to turn me down) but I loved how the scene didn’t turn bondage at all. You could feel Milan’s hand in how every simplification was avoided (the first marriage proposal is declined, etc) and how the bullying was treated. A fine treat.
“When I Met My Duchess,” by Caroline Linden *
The bride’s family (and the bride!) stays in the bridegroom’s palace for the two weeks preceding the wedding? Really? At the beginning of XIX century? Unconceivable. For me this novella was flawed from the very beginning. I finished it by sheer force of will. I could not find one motive of interest in the hero and the heroine, and I cared naught about their romance. The side love story between Helen and Blair, albeit patent from page 1, was far more interesting, and I’d loved more this story if told from their POVs (with the dull Gareth and Cleo as side characters.)
“How to Catch a Wild Viscount,” by Tessa Dare **
The style is good, the story of the werestag is captivating (and I regret that the original title, The Legend of the Werestag, was later changed) and the side love story between Portia and Mr Brooke is lovely, but I found hardly believable that a 1815 heroine would honestly think to win a man’s love offering herself to him. I disliked the sex scene and its motivations and I could not warm to a love story based on such flimsy premises.
“One Starlit Night,” by Carolyn Jewel *****
Practically flawless from start to finish. Reading this after the terrible When I Met My Duchess restored my faith in humanity. The only more thing I could have asked for was a scene showing Eleanor’s reaction to the news of the marriage between Crispin and Portia.
“Claiming the Duchess,” by Sherry Thomas *****
Very sweet, it is unfortunately the shortest novella of the anthology. I’ gladly read a good fifty pages more about these characters and their correspondence. More brouhaha about the discovery of Miss Kirkland’s true identity wouldn’t have been amiss.
“The Misbehaving Marquess,” by Leight LaValle ***
The writing style is very simple, and the husband’s prolonged absence seems a bit strained, but the heroine is very sympathetic, and all in all it’s a nice short story.
“Ruined by a Rake,” by Erin Knightley ****
This is a clean (no sex) regency, and the hero is very far from being a rake. The sword sparring scenes seemed believable. The ending is a bit syrupy but overall this is a good novella.
Courtney Milan was the only author of this anthology that I’d already read (The Duchess War) and I left her novella for the last. I enjoyed it far, far more than The Duchess War and I was lucky enough to be able to read it all in a row in one day. I trembled when I saw Evan taking a rope out of his backpack (there’s nothing like BDSM to turn me down) but I loved how the scene didn’t turn bondage at all. You could feel Milan’s hand in how every simplification was avoided (the first marriage proposal is declined, etc) and how the bullying was treated. A fine treat.
“When I Met My Duchess,” by Caroline Linden *
The bride’s family (and the bride!) stays in the bridegroom’s palace for the two weeks preceding the wedding? Really? At the beginning of XIX century? Unconceivable. For me this novella was flawed from the very beginning. I finished it by sheer force of will. I could not find one motive of interest in the hero and the heroine, and I cared naught about their romance. The side love story between Helen and Blair, albeit patent from page 1, was far more interesting, and I’d loved more this story if told from their POVs (with the dull Gareth and Cleo as side characters.)
“How to Catch a Wild Viscount,” by Tessa Dare **
The style is good, the story of the werestag is captivating (and I regret that the original title, The Legend of the Werestag, was later changed) and the side love story between Portia and Mr Brooke is lovely, but I found hardly believable that a 1815 heroine would honestly think to win a man’s love offering herself to him. I disliked the sex scene and its motivations and I could not warm to a love story based on such flimsy premises.
“One Starlit Night,” by Carolyn Jewel *****
Practically flawless from start to finish. Reading this after the terrible When I Met My Duchess restored my faith in humanity. The only more thing I could have asked for was a scene showing Eleanor’s reaction to the news of the marriage between Crispin and Portia.
“Claiming the Duchess,” by Sherry Thomas *****
Very sweet, it is unfortunately the shortest novella of the anthology. I’ gladly read a good fifty pages more about these characters and their correspondence. More brouhaha about the discovery of Miss Kirkland’s true identity wouldn’t have been amiss.
“The Misbehaving Marquess,” by Leight LaValle ***
The writing style is very simple, and the husband’s prolonged absence seems a bit strained, but the heroine is very sympathetic, and all in all it’s a nice short story.
“Ruined by a Rake,” by Erin Knightley ****
This is a clean (no sex) regency, and the hero is very far from being a rake. The sword sparring scenes seemed believable. The ending is a bit syrupy but overall this is a good novella.
September 26, 2014
I'd read most of these before, but I thoroughly enjoyed them again.
They shared a general theme: the heroine has known the hero for a long time, but has either not seen him as a romantic partner or thinks he doesn't see her as a romantic partner. The plot sparks from the friction or misunderstandings between them.
Erin Knightley's Ruined by a Rake was new to me. I must look out for more of hers. I know that people can become fall back into childhood patterns of relating that don't suit their adult selves, and I thought she handled this idea very well. Nicolas Norton was annoying, but I understood why, and saw behind it.
Caroline Linden is another author I'll now read more of. I read When I met my Duchess at a gulp. In most books, I have a preference for one or other of the lead characters. I liked both Wessex and Cleo, not least because they cared about how their behaviour affected others. The ending wasn't a surprise; I saw the signals. But who needs surprises when the results are so satisfactory?
I wasn't quite as sympathetic to Leigh LaValle's misbehaving marquess. The man was a prat. The fact that he came to realise it was something of a saving grace, but I would have liked him better if he'd come home intending to reconcile. After all, she apologised five years ago, you stupid fool! What else do you want? Blood?
The other books were not new to me, but they sucked me in and I read them over, with great pleasure.
The Claiming of the Duchess was my favourite in the whole set. I loved this story the first time I read it, and I love it still.
I've never read a Carolyn Jewel or a Courtney Milan I didn't like. Carolyn Jewel's One Starlit Night was beautifully written, with the most difficult part of it sensitively handled. And Northwood is on my list of men I'd consider if my own romantic hero (of 43 years and counting) wasn't an impossible act to follow.
Unlocked was the first Courtney Milan I read, and I when I finished it for the first time I went straight to the library, downloaded everything they had, and read them back to back for a week. Since then, I've been on her preorder list through the Brothers Sinister. She has never let me down. Reading Unlocked again was like reading an old friend.
When I first read How to Catch a Wild Viscount it was The Legend of the Werestag. It is oddly lyrical. Emotionally damaged war heroes who want to save the heroine from their flawed selves are not my favourite kind of hero, but Tessa Dare handles it well.
They shared a general theme: the heroine has known the hero for a long time, but has either not seen him as a romantic partner or thinks he doesn't see her as a romantic partner. The plot sparks from the friction or misunderstandings between them.
Erin Knightley's Ruined by a Rake was new to me. I must look out for more of hers. I know that people can become fall back into childhood patterns of relating that don't suit their adult selves, and I thought she handled this idea very well. Nicolas Norton was annoying, but I understood why, and saw behind it.
Caroline Linden is another author I'll now read more of. I read When I met my Duchess at a gulp. In most books, I have a preference for one or other of the lead characters. I liked both Wessex and Cleo, not least because they cared about how their behaviour affected others. The ending wasn't a surprise; I saw the signals. But who needs surprises when the results are so satisfactory?
I wasn't quite as sympathetic to Leigh LaValle's misbehaving marquess. The man was a prat. The fact that he came to realise it was something of a saving grace, but I would have liked him better if he'd come home intending to reconcile. After all, she apologised five years ago, you stupid fool! What else do you want? Blood?
The other books were not new to me, but they sucked me in and I read them over, with great pleasure.
The Claiming of the Duchess was my favourite in the whole set. I loved this story the first time I read it, and I love it still.
I've never read a Carolyn Jewel or a Courtney Milan I didn't like. Carolyn Jewel's One Starlit Night was beautifully written, with the most difficult part of it sensitively handled. And Northwood is on my list of men I'd consider if my own romantic hero (of 43 years and counting) wasn't an impossible act to follow.
Unlocked was the first Courtney Milan I read, and I when I finished it for the first time I went straight to the library, downloaded everything they had, and read them back to back for a week. Since then, I've been on her preorder list through the Brothers Sinister. She has never let me down. Reading Unlocked again was like reading an old friend.
When I first read How to Catch a Wild Viscount it was The Legend of the Werestag. It is oddly lyrical. Emotionally damaged war heroes who want to save the heroine from their flawed selves are not my favourite kind of hero, but Tessa Dare handles it well.
October 13, 2016
A very nice anthology of short romances, quality was good, even if I didn't love all the stories.
(3/5) Unlocked by Courtney Milan
Story of a man who tormented and socially destroyed a woman because he was attracted to her and his pride couldn't take it. Set-up was pretty hard to take because he really was awful to her, but I enjoyed how Ms. Milan had him really work to get her back and also learn to be a better person in general.
(4/5) When I Met My Dutchess by Caroline Linden
Duke falls in love with his bride's sister. Their romance was pretty well done and I could see the secondary romance coming from the first few pages, but I enjoyed that.
(3/5) How to Catch a Wild Viscount by Tessa Dare
I love Ms. Dare's writing, but this is one of her earlier works and it shows. Characters are a little thin, as is the plot. Still a generally entertaining romp though.
(2/5) One Starlit Night Carolyn Jewel
Ugh. Two people who seem to have little in common except irrepressible lust and a shared history growing up together. Snooze. I felt bad for her sister in law, who was set up as a semi-villain character but really didn't seem as awful as the author tried to make her out to be.
(4/5) Claiming the Dutchess by Sherry Thomas
I'm a fan of Ms. Thomas' books and I enjoyed this one. The twist was transparent but the lovestory was sweet. I'm a sucker for the wooing=by-letters.
(1/5) The Misbehaving Marquis by Leigh LaValle
Ugh, he was an asshole. Other than desire, why did she want him back? Oh right it's the Mr. Darcy thing. UGH.
(5/5) Ruined by a Rake by Erin Knightley
Cute feisty dialog, and a believable frenemy-turned-lovers story. Also nice that she's older than him. Not too many of those stories. Very enjoyable!
(3/5) Unlocked by Courtney Milan
Story of a man who tormented and socially destroyed a woman because he was attracted to her and his pride couldn't take it. Set-up was pretty hard to take because he really was awful to her, but I enjoyed how Ms. Milan had him really work to get her back and also learn to be a better person in general.
(4/5) When I Met My Dutchess by Caroline Linden
Duke falls in love with his bride's sister. Their romance was pretty well done and I could see the secondary romance coming from the first few pages, but I enjoyed that.
(3/5) How to Catch a Wild Viscount by Tessa Dare
I love Ms. Dare's writing, but this is one of her earlier works and it shows. Characters are a little thin, as is the plot. Still a generally entertaining romp though.
(2/5) One Starlit Night Carolyn Jewel
Ugh. Two people who seem to have little in common except irrepressible lust and a shared history growing up together. Snooze. I felt bad for her sister in law, who was set up as a semi-villain character but really didn't seem as awful as the author tried to make her out to be.
(4/5) Claiming the Dutchess by Sherry Thomas
I'm a fan of Ms. Thomas' books and I enjoyed this one. The twist was transparent but the lovestory was sweet. I'm a sucker for the wooing=by-letters.
(1/5) The Misbehaving Marquis by Leigh LaValle
Ugh, he was an asshole. Other than desire, why did she want him back? Oh right it's the Mr. Darcy thing. UGH.
(5/5) Ruined by a Rake by Erin Knightley
Cute feisty dialog, and a believable frenemy-turned-lovers story. Also nice that she's older than him. Not too many of those stories. Very enjoyable!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 15, 2014
This was actually a really decent collection of reads. I have bought another box set and found that only a few were worth the read. This collection was not like that at all. Out of the seven books there was only one I found OK. The rest were enjoyable romances and GREAT for during the working week- being short and light. Based on the price (.99c) and the fact that this collection was very readable I am giving it a four star (really liked it) rating. I would definitely consider reading more from some of the authors in this box set.
September 27, 2014
I saw a collection of short stories available from Kobo for $2 and decided to buy it. I'm really glad I did too. It's a fun, little collection of shorts in the historical-romance vein that makes you feel like you've devoured 7 novels in the course of a few days. I can see all of these short stories as longer tales and I kinda wish they were but I've also enjoyed speeding through the different scintillating stories.
October 22, 2014
I needed something that wasn’t heavy warrior paranormal and lucked into this set of short stories. I’m very familiar with Erin Knightly and Tessa Dare and love them, but was less familiar with the others. I enjoyed all the stories, I think my favorite new one was One Starlit Night by Carolyn Jewel –it was different and I was surprised by the twist. A lot of fun reads.
December 21, 2014
A wonderful anthology that mixed some stories I'd read before with new ones. All of them can stand on their own and I've found a few more authors to read. For someone curious about historical romance, this collection would be a great place to start with stories by some of the best authors in the business.
Want to read
April 13, 2016Unlocked by Courtney Milan
When I Met my Duchess by Caroline Linden
How to Catch a Wild Viscount by Tessa Dare (originally published as The Legend of the Werestag)
One Starlit Night by Carolyn Jewel
Claiming the Duchess by Sherry Thomas
The Misbehaving Marquess by Leigh LaValle
Ruined by a Rake by Erin Knightley
When I Met my Duchess by Caroline Linden
How to Catch a Wild Viscount by Tessa Dare (originally published as The Legend of the Werestag)
One Starlit Night by Carolyn Jewel
Claiming the Duchess by Sherry Thomas
The Misbehaving Marquess by Leigh LaValle
Ruined by a Rake by Erin Knightley
June 4, 2015
Wonderfully put together
I really enjoyed this box set. All the characters were enjoyable. Very fun read on a warm lazy day. Can't wait to read more from these exceptional authors.
I really enjoyed this box set. All the characters were enjoyable. Very fun read on a warm lazy day. Can't wait to read more from these exceptional authors.
January 7, 2016
Some books were four stars, some were three. As always I enjoyed Courtney Milan's. I also enjoyed Leigh Lavalle's and Erin Knightley's as well. I've never read anything by them before but I think I'll be looking up some of their books soon enough.
January 15, 2016
Seven wicked nights
I thoroughly enjoyed each of these novellas. One of which I had read before, but I shall enjoy re reading all of them. I've read books of each of the authors before so I knew in advance I would enjoy these.
I thoroughly enjoyed each of these novellas. One of which I had read before, but I shall enjoy re reading all of them. I've read books of each of the authors before so I knew in advance I would enjoy these.
June 23, 2016
I found that 4-5 of the stories I had previously read in other anthologies or in other publications by the authors, so I was unimpressed with this selection. The stories themselves, however, are good if you have not already read them.
Want to read
September 12, 2014Note: Woohoo! I won! I won! - https://www.facebook.com/courtneymila...
April 1, 2015
Didn't read them all but really like most of the ones I read.
October 7, 2014
An excellently executed set of Regency-era novellas!
October 3, 2014
Steal of a deal short stories previously in other compilations. Milan, Linden, Dare and Jewel are each worth the price.
September 30, 2014
Enjoyable novellas.
February 10, 2015
Four pretty good stories, one okay story, one downright-unreadable story, and one story that was just kind of dumb. (Some were more wicked than others.)
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