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House of Devon #8
Tempting Taffy
Someone is out to kill Gavin Carstairs, the Marquis of Falkirk, and his young son, but he cannot figure out who or why. He takes refuge at Hartland Abbey, the isolated country home of his friend, the Duke of Devon, while sorting it out. But all is not as it seems at Hartland Abbey either. Taffy, the maid assigned to attend to his quarters, is temptation itself, and one thing is for certain, she is no maid.
Who is Taffy Ralston? And why is his heart, and his son, telling him to trust her?
Who is Taffy Ralston? And why is his heart, and his son, telling him to trust her?
125 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 6, 2020
69 people are currently reading
67 people want to read
About the author
Meara Platt
121 books895 followersMeara Platt is happily married to her Russell Crowe look-alike husband, and they have two terrific children. She lives in one of the many great towns on Long Island, New York, and loves it, except for the traffic. She has traveled extensively, occasionally lectures and finds time to write. Her favorite place in all the world is England’s Lake District, which may not come as a surprise since many of her stories are set in that idyllic landscape, including her Romance Writers of America Golden Heart award winning story.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
September 29, 2020
❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
💋💋
Move over Brayden's here comes Gavin Carstairs .
This hero has the signature moves and panache of a Meara special.
She writes them so well.
All feeling and passionate romance, it just drips from the pages.
Gavin falls for Taffy almost on site, she there to help but it’s almost like she was heaven sent just for him and young Rafe, who by the way is Adorable with a capital A.
Taffy is a runner and good looks and personality aside, knows her job and does it perfectly.
The characters are brilliant and the story keeps your attention throughout, no complaints about this one at all.
Meara is on a role and has proven she is one of the best authors around in this genre.
I received an Arc copy of this book and chose to post this review
💋💋
Move over Brayden's here comes Gavin Carstairs .
This hero has the signature moves and panache of a Meara special.
She writes them so well.
All feeling and passionate romance, it just drips from the pages.
Gavin falls for Taffy almost on site, she there to help but it’s almost like she was heaven sent just for him and young Rafe, who by the way is Adorable with a capital A.
Taffy is a runner and good looks and personality aside, knows her job and does it perfectly.
The characters are brilliant and the story keeps your attention throughout, no complaints about this one at all.
Meara is on a role and has proven she is one of the best authors around in this genre.
I received an Arc copy of this book and chose to post this review
August 31, 2020
What a charming story!! Tempting Taffy by Meara Platt is book 8 in the House of Devon series and I so enjoyed this story. This regency story is easy to read and though in a series can be read a a standalone. Meara has a true talent for writing such creative and wonderful characters that you can’t help but fall in love with Taffy, Gavin and little Rafe. I loved the mystery of this book as well and it alway kept me guessing. I couldn’t put it down and had to know how this was going to end. This story has a very strong heroine with a loving heart, attempted murder, loving father, a fondling, breaking into one’s house, jealousy, resentment, a job well done and yes, love. I highly recommend this book! It was a great read!!!
***This book was gifted to me and I am voluntarily reviewing.
***This book was gifted to me and I am voluntarily reviewing.
October 25, 2020
This was an entertaining read. Gavin Carstairs, Marquis of Falkirk is in hiding from someone who wants to kill him and his young son. Taffy is a Bow Street Runner, working undercover as a maid. Gavin soon sussed that Taffy was no ordinary maid and not only that, he felt a strong attraction to her. As they are in each other’s company so this attraction to each other deepens. However, Taffy is a commoner and not a person that Gavin could marry. There is also the problem of discovering the identity of the would be killer and the danger they would be in if he found them.
October 8, 2020
An exciting story, with a female Bow Street runner, a very handsome and sexy Scot with his 5 year old son, who is so cute. I loved the plot and characters. Such an enjoyable read. 5☆
October 8, 2020
Great
I found this a really good book. Taffy is an amazing character. She is brave, strong and honest risking her life to save the Marquis and his son. This is a good storyline with great plot twists every easy to read.
I found this a really good book. Taffy is an amazing character. She is brave, strong and honest risking her life to save the Marquis and his son. This is a good storyline with great plot twists every easy to read.
September 14, 2020
I voluntarily read an Advanced Reader Copy of Tempting Taffy and the views expressed are my honest opinions. This book is part of the House of Devon Series.
The Marquis of Falkirk, Gavin Carstairs, and his son Rafe arrives at Hartland Abbey, the Duke of Devon’s large spacious mansion in Yorkshire. Among the staff residing at the abbey, Gavin immediately notices the sharp-witted maid who takes care of his chamber, Taffy Ralston. Since Gavin and Rafe are in a bit of a pickle following a series of attempts on their life, Gavin is initially cautious of Taffy until she reveals that she in fact is a Bow Street Runner who often works for the Duke of Devon. Since Rafe took an immediate liking to Taffy, Gavin begins to trust the woman, especially answering her probing questions in order to find the identity of the perpetrator.
With the help of other runners part of Mr. Barrow’s team posing as staff in the house, keeping an eye on the surrounding village and attempting to catch a glimpse of the murderer, Taffy and Gavin work on teaching Rafe safe places to hide when the perpetrator manages to get at close range. When there are visible signs that the perpetrator has penetrated the house, Taffy and Gavin find themselves in an intimate situation, barricaded inside the room with Rafe, thus igniting sparks and awareness between the adults. But will the future Duke of Inverness manage to find a way to have the lovely foundling permanently in his life or will they exist only as a memory should the perpetrator be found?
Tempting Taffy is a lovely stand-alone read. Despite being abandoned in infancy, Taffy grows up as a strong resilient woman and a brave and excellent Bow Street Runner. She interacts with Rafe in a sweet way, teaching him how to look out for himself and stay safe while making it like a game. Thus, the boy who is starved for motherly attention is immediately taken with the woman who longs to belong, especially to the handsome Marquis who is the stuff dreams are made of. I definitely recommend this easy-to-read story with page-turning twists to the assassination attempts.
I voluntarily read an Advanced Reader Copy of The Highlander’s Excellent Adventure and the views expressed are my honest opinions. This is the 8th book in the Survivors’ series. However, unlike the previous books, THEA features 2 Survivors and their love interests, Survivors whom we have been introduced to in the previous books – Duncan Murray, the Scot and Stratford Fortescue.
Duncan was sent to England by his mother in order to find an acceptable wife. However, oftentimes he found himself in the card room rather than courting potential spouses. Hence, he decides to return home. Little did he expect to find a stowaway in his carriage late in the first day of travels. The lady, Ines Neves, who she was hiding from a boring suitor, had thought to hide in the carriage while her suitor was inside her house. So, it she was surprised to awaken from a nap and find the moving carriage far from London. On recognizing Duncan, Ines pretended to speak only Portuguese to avoid being returned to Duncan’s superior and her brother-in-law, Lieutenant Colonel Draven and thus get a taste of adventure.
Due to the language barrier, Duncan opts to visit his fellow Survivor Nash Pope, a sharpshooter, who would be able to talk to Ines in her native language. On the road, the couple meet Stratford, having just caught up with his headstrong distant cousin, Miss Emmeline Wellesly. The latter had run away from home after getting fed up of feeling inadequate among her family members. Stratford believed he always felt himself dutybound to escort his distant cousins however in the deepest corners of his heart, he found himself yearning for Emmeline, despite believing her out of his reach. By joining forces to give each other respectability, the couples travel on to Pope’s estate. However, the journey is far from smooth and plans change once again.
As expected, Shana Galen introduced 2 lovely dogs, one of which is prominent to the storyline, to ensure havoc to the adventure. In addition, several secondary characters whom readers already met in previous books also appear in the book, including a very furious Lieutenant Colonel Draven. The book is well written, with each character’s point-of-view titled to avoid confusion. It is impossible not to become entrenched in the story when shootings and outlaws are prominent while the foursome travel across England and try to acknowledge a growing attraction between couples. I also like the fact that Shana introduces new Survivors in each book and Nash Pope is portrayed as a potential hero with a lot of baggage and trauma leftover from war.
Thank you so much for this lovely adventure!
I voluntarily read an Advanced Reader Copy of Kisses and Scandal: A Survivor Series Anthology and the views expressed are my honest opinions.
I like this book because Shana Galen ties up several loose ends from the previous Survivor books.
Kisses and Scandal was my least favourite from the book, especially because the novella ends in a most improbable way. However, at the same time, I commend Shana for taking that step. The heroine, Lady Philomena is the Duke of Mayne’s sister. Since the family had already withered a scandal when Phineas made a scandalous woman far older than him his Duchess, Phil’s mother is set to have her daughter marry impeccably well. Thus, Phil must either choose a suitable groom, or find herself married to one. This excludes Phil’s love interest, James Finnegan, who works as a footman in her mother’s house. Raised in poverty in Dublin, James and his two friends had concocted a plan to obtain enough funds to leave for a new world. However, he hadn’t expected to change his mind once he got to know Lady Phil. Will he be able to keep her safe when his friends act behind his back and put her in danger? 3/5
In Counterfeit Scandal, the art/counterfeiting teacher Bridget Lavery is searching for her son James, whom she gave up before entering debtor’s prison. Unfortunately for her, the orphanage had been burnt down and no one knew what happened to the inhabitants. When she runs into Caleb Harris, James’ real father and former spy, she enlists his help to find their son, despite the potential danger he can bring due to him being a wanted man. I had been looking forward to getting to know James’ (aka Jimmy) story and to re-uniting him with his family. This novella keeps you on edge throughout the search of little James. 5/5
In How to Brew a Perfect Kiss, Thomas Gaines finally gets his own story. We first met Thomas in Shana’s Survivor book An Affair with a Spare, where he plays a prominent part of the storyline. In fact, the readers loved him so much that they demanded he gets his own story. Thankfully, Shana agreed. Thomas moved to London to open business on Bond Street. Raeni Sawyer needed money and accepted a position at his teashop, despite not having the talent for serving. After a mishap, Thomas meets the beautiful Raeni and offers her a different position, that of his clerk. Will the closeness make them realize how perfect they are for each other? I love the little details such as thorough descriptions of Bond Street which give a realistic perspective to the novella. 5/5
Even if you are not a fan of the Survivor books, you will definitely enjoy these 3 novellas.
I voluntarily read an Advanced Reader Copy of How the Lady was Won and the views expressed are my honest opinions. This is Shana Galen’s 7th book in the Survivor Series and Colin FitzRoy’s story – The Pretender. One thing is for certain, Colin has lived up to his nickname by pretending he couldn’t care less for the youngest daughter of the Duke of Warcliffe, Lady Daphne, his wife.
Colin and Daphne had wed young following a longstanding friendship between their mothers to connect the two families before Colin’s mother passed away. Daphne was ecstatic whilst Colin was uncertain about the connection. The families, and themselves, were total opposites. Both virgins, their wedding night was anticlimactic, and their marriage couldn’t stand a chance with Colin leaving for war soon after.
Seven years later, Colin got summoned by his in-laws to make something of this marriage now that the war was over. While following Lady Daphne, now one of the Three Suns within society, Colin realizes that something is amiss, much to his wife’s dismay. Slowly, Colin tries to uncover the mystery behind his wife’s blackmailer. The more time he spends in her company, the more he realizes that he must stop the charade and admit to his emotions hidden deep inside. Will the FitzRoys manage to make their marriage work? Or has too much time passed for them?
Once again, Shana Galen marries romance with mystery successfully to provide a wonderful adventure for her characters and readers. Add to that numerous secondary characters – an elderly pug, meddling parents, nosey siblings, a Scot searching for a wife, a ragamuffin – who will keep the readers enthralled up to the final page.
I voluntarily read an Advanced Reader Copy of Bachelors of Bond Street and the views expressed are my honest opinions. Shana Galen, Janna MacGregor and Minerva Spencer team up with three novellas featuring three successful businessmen and their chance meeting with love.
In Janna MacGregor’s Love by the Letters, Portia Bellingham delivers her sister’s love letter the wrong person, thus meeting Gabriel St. Aulyn. Thus, she must recover it or risk having her sister ridiculed or worse, should the contents come to light. When her initial attempt results in failure, Portia must return to Gabriel’s bookshop, enabling her to get to know the bachelor better. It is then she discovers she has so much in common with him. But will their interests be enough for them to go against everything for a lifetime full of love together? This sweet novella ends with an unexpected twist that readers surely did not imagine. However, it could have been better such as delving into Gabriel’s past, or introducing the alleged fiancé 3.5/5
In Shana Galen’s How to Brew a Perfect Kiss, Thomas Gaines gets his own story. Readers first met Thomas in Shana’s Survivor book An Affair with a Spare, where he plays a prominent part of the storyline. In fact, the readers loved him so much that they demanded he gets his own story. Thankfully, Shana agreed. Thomas moved to London to open business on Bond Street. Raeni Sawyer needed money and accepted a position at his teashop, despite not having the talent for serving. After a mishap, Thomas meets the beautiful Raeni and offers her a different position, that of his clerk. Will the closeness make them realize how perfect they are for each other? I love the little details in the book such as descriptions of Bond Street as they give a realistic perspective to the novella. 5/5
In Minerva Spencer’s A Second Chance for Love, Oona Parker gets reunited with Justin Taylor by chance after they had been employed in the same household ten years earlier. Justin, who held the position of a groom, had been let go for dallying and had believed that Oona, then the governess, had been the tattletale after discovering him in flagrante delicto. Thus, after a decade, he welcomes the opportunity to carry out the revenge he always desired, despite of having done well. Thus, he offers the beautiful but impoverished Oona money to act as his mistress for a week, keeping his reason a secret. Oona, having secrets of her own, accepts. Would she regret her choice, or would this adventure lead to a lifetime of love? This novella is well written and keeps the readers in the dark of all the events until the end. 5/5
I voluntarily read an Advanced Reader Copy of Shana Galen’s sixth Survivors book, A Duke a Dozen and the views expressed are my honest opinions. The Doomed Duke, Phineas Duncombe, ninth Duke of Mayne meets the Wanton Widow, Annabel Countess of Longstowe due to the peculiar circumstances his four elder brothers passed away.
After a rocky start, Phin realizes that the beautiful Countess is far more different than the ton believes. Despite the age gap, it does not take long for Phin to fall for her. When Annabel approaches Phin requesting his help to locate her daughter, she expects him his help at a price. But kind-hearted Phin who didn’t want or expect the dukedom surprises her by offering his help and friendship with no strings attached. Their journey to the country sheds light on the Countess’ marriage and the cruel, sadistic ways an elderly Earl had ensured his young Countess would remain faithful to him. During the journey, it also becomes apparent that the Dukes of Mayne might have been targeted by an enemy. Will Phin convince Annabel that it’s never too late for love or will he realize that he needs to do his duty to secure the line?
I commend Ms. Galen for her creativity in providing diversity in her books. Initially, I thought that an older heroine would not work. But the reader gets entranced with the plot and getting to know Annabel as the story progresses, one cannot help but feel for her past marriage years. Ms. Galen also includes an assortment of secondary characters, two of which having special needs. I love that Ms. Galen has included the perspective of one of them in the book, giving her a fierce spirit. Unfortunately, as with the Countess’ daughter, people with disabilities would have been locked away at the time. Ms. Galen has included a cute furry animal, this time a rabbit named Twitchy which needed saving from the pot. Towards the end of the book, we also get to meet Colin FitzRoy, another Survivor.
A sweet beginning to the Dove Pond series which introduces subsequent main characters as secondary characters in this novella. Sofia moves to Dove Pond with her autistic son Noah to oversee Ava Dove’s greenhouses. She rents Ava’s property next door to a recluse game developer Jake. After Jake’s fiancé, he barely left his house. Together with his bulldog and a bevy of ghosts, he believed it was what he wanted. Until the ghost of his former neighbour Doyle appears and refuses to leave until Jake listens to his advice. When a bet between school children makes Jake meet his neighbours, Noah refuses to back down from the chance to learn more about coding games. Thus, Jake, Sofia and Noah fit in a routine. But will this be enough for Jake to realize how precious life can be with the right person?
Project Duchess is the first book in the new series Duke Dynasty. Fletcher ‘Grey’ Pryde, the Duke of Greycourt has an unusual family, being the eldest of his stepsiblings, two of which are also Dukes. His mother was widowed and remarried two other Dukes and went to live abroad with her third husband.
Due to these circumstances, Grey had not seen his family for several years while he was increasing his holdings however the death of his stepfather sent him rushing to his mother’s side. This enabled him to meet the Wolfe cousins, Beatr
The Marquis of Falkirk, Gavin Carstairs, and his son Rafe arrives at Hartland Abbey, the Duke of Devon’s large spacious mansion in Yorkshire. Among the staff residing at the abbey, Gavin immediately notices the sharp-witted maid who takes care of his chamber, Taffy Ralston. Since Gavin and Rafe are in a bit of a pickle following a series of attempts on their life, Gavin is initially cautious of Taffy until she reveals that she in fact is a Bow Street Runner who often works for the Duke of Devon. Since Rafe took an immediate liking to Taffy, Gavin begins to trust the woman, especially answering her probing questions in order to find the identity of the perpetrator.
With the help of other runners part of Mr. Barrow’s team posing as staff in the house, keeping an eye on the surrounding village and attempting to catch a glimpse of the murderer, Taffy and Gavin work on teaching Rafe safe places to hide when the perpetrator manages to get at close range. When there are visible signs that the perpetrator has penetrated the house, Taffy and Gavin find themselves in an intimate situation, barricaded inside the room with Rafe, thus igniting sparks and awareness between the adults. But will the future Duke of Inverness manage to find a way to have the lovely foundling permanently in his life or will they exist only as a memory should the perpetrator be found?
Tempting Taffy is a lovely stand-alone read. Despite being abandoned in infancy, Taffy grows up as a strong resilient woman and a brave and excellent Bow Street Runner. She interacts with Rafe in a sweet way, teaching him how to look out for himself and stay safe while making it like a game. Thus, the boy who is starved for motherly attention is immediately taken with the woman who longs to belong, especially to the handsome Marquis who is the stuff dreams are made of. I definitely recommend this easy-to-read story with page-turning twists to the assassination attempts.
I voluntarily read an Advanced Reader Copy of The Highlander’s Excellent Adventure and the views expressed are my honest opinions. This is the 8th book in the Survivors’ series. However, unlike the previous books, THEA features 2 Survivors and their love interests, Survivors whom we have been introduced to in the previous books – Duncan Murray, the Scot and Stratford Fortescue.
Duncan was sent to England by his mother in order to find an acceptable wife. However, oftentimes he found himself in the card room rather than courting potential spouses. Hence, he decides to return home. Little did he expect to find a stowaway in his carriage late in the first day of travels. The lady, Ines Neves, who she was hiding from a boring suitor, had thought to hide in the carriage while her suitor was inside her house. So, it she was surprised to awaken from a nap and find the moving carriage far from London. On recognizing Duncan, Ines pretended to speak only Portuguese to avoid being returned to Duncan’s superior and her brother-in-law, Lieutenant Colonel Draven and thus get a taste of adventure.
Due to the language barrier, Duncan opts to visit his fellow Survivor Nash Pope, a sharpshooter, who would be able to talk to Ines in her native language. On the road, the couple meet Stratford, having just caught up with his headstrong distant cousin, Miss Emmeline Wellesly. The latter had run away from home after getting fed up of feeling inadequate among her family members. Stratford believed he always felt himself dutybound to escort his distant cousins however in the deepest corners of his heart, he found himself yearning for Emmeline, despite believing her out of his reach. By joining forces to give each other respectability, the couples travel on to Pope’s estate. However, the journey is far from smooth and plans change once again.
As expected, Shana Galen introduced 2 lovely dogs, one of which is prominent to the storyline, to ensure havoc to the adventure. In addition, several secondary characters whom readers already met in previous books also appear in the book, including a very furious Lieutenant Colonel Draven. The book is well written, with each character’s point-of-view titled to avoid confusion. It is impossible not to become entrenched in the story when shootings and outlaws are prominent while the foursome travel across England and try to acknowledge a growing attraction between couples. I also like the fact that Shana introduces new Survivors in each book and Nash Pope is portrayed as a potential hero with a lot of baggage and trauma leftover from war.
Thank you so much for this lovely adventure!
I voluntarily read an Advanced Reader Copy of Kisses and Scandal: A Survivor Series Anthology and the views expressed are my honest opinions.
I like this book because Shana Galen ties up several loose ends from the previous Survivor books.
Kisses and Scandal was my least favourite from the book, especially because the novella ends in a most improbable way. However, at the same time, I commend Shana for taking that step. The heroine, Lady Philomena is the Duke of Mayne’s sister. Since the family had already withered a scandal when Phineas made a scandalous woman far older than him his Duchess, Phil’s mother is set to have her daughter marry impeccably well. Thus, Phil must either choose a suitable groom, or find herself married to one. This excludes Phil’s love interest, James Finnegan, who works as a footman in her mother’s house. Raised in poverty in Dublin, James and his two friends had concocted a plan to obtain enough funds to leave for a new world. However, he hadn’t expected to change his mind once he got to know Lady Phil. Will he be able to keep her safe when his friends act behind his back and put her in danger? 3/5
In Counterfeit Scandal, the art/counterfeiting teacher Bridget Lavery is searching for her son James, whom she gave up before entering debtor’s prison. Unfortunately for her, the orphanage had been burnt down and no one knew what happened to the inhabitants. When she runs into Caleb Harris, James’ real father and former spy, she enlists his help to find their son, despite the potential danger he can bring due to him being a wanted man. I had been looking forward to getting to know James’ (aka Jimmy) story and to re-uniting him with his family. This novella keeps you on edge throughout the search of little James. 5/5
In How to Brew a Perfect Kiss, Thomas Gaines finally gets his own story. We first met Thomas in Shana’s Survivor book An Affair with a Spare, where he plays a prominent part of the storyline. In fact, the readers loved him so much that they demanded he gets his own story. Thankfully, Shana agreed. Thomas moved to London to open business on Bond Street. Raeni Sawyer needed money and accepted a position at his teashop, despite not having the talent for serving. After a mishap, Thomas meets the beautiful Raeni and offers her a different position, that of his clerk. Will the closeness make them realize how perfect they are for each other? I love the little details such as thorough descriptions of Bond Street which give a realistic perspective to the novella. 5/5
Even if you are not a fan of the Survivor books, you will definitely enjoy these 3 novellas.
I voluntarily read an Advanced Reader Copy of How the Lady was Won and the views expressed are my honest opinions. This is Shana Galen’s 7th book in the Survivor Series and Colin FitzRoy’s story – The Pretender. One thing is for certain, Colin has lived up to his nickname by pretending he couldn’t care less for the youngest daughter of the Duke of Warcliffe, Lady Daphne, his wife.
Colin and Daphne had wed young following a longstanding friendship between their mothers to connect the two families before Colin’s mother passed away. Daphne was ecstatic whilst Colin was uncertain about the connection. The families, and themselves, were total opposites. Both virgins, their wedding night was anticlimactic, and their marriage couldn’t stand a chance with Colin leaving for war soon after.
Seven years later, Colin got summoned by his in-laws to make something of this marriage now that the war was over. While following Lady Daphne, now one of the Three Suns within society, Colin realizes that something is amiss, much to his wife’s dismay. Slowly, Colin tries to uncover the mystery behind his wife’s blackmailer. The more time he spends in her company, the more he realizes that he must stop the charade and admit to his emotions hidden deep inside. Will the FitzRoys manage to make their marriage work? Or has too much time passed for them?
Once again, Shana Galen marries romance with mystery successfully to provide a wonderful adventure for her characters and readers. Add to that numerous secondary characters – an elderly pug, meddling parents, nosey siblings, a Scot searching for a wife, a ragamuffin – who will keep the readers enthralled up to the final page.
I voluntarily read an Advanced Reader Copy of Bachelors of Bond Street and the views expressed are my honest opinions. Shana Galen, Janna MacGregor and Minerva Spencer team up with three novellas featuring three successful businessmen and their chance meeting with love.
In Janna MacGregor’s Love by the Letters, Portia Bellingham delivers her sister’s love letter the wrong person, thus meeting Gabriel St. Aulyn. Thus, she must recover it or risk having her sister ridiculed or worse, should the contents come to light. When her initial attempt results in failure, Portia must return to Gabriel’s bookshop, enabling her to get to know the bachelor better. It is then she discovers she has so much in common with him. But will their interests be enough for them to go against everything for a lifetime full of love together? This sweet novella ends with an unexpected twist that readers surely did not imagine. However, it could have been better such as delving into Gabriel’s past, or introducing the alleged fiancé 3.5/5
In Shana Galen’s How to Brew a Perfect Kiss, Thomas Gaines gets his own story. Readers first met Thomas in Shana’s Survivor book An Affair with a Spare, where he plays a prominent part of the storyline. In fact, the readers loved him so much that they demanded he gets his own story. Thankfully, Shana agreed. Thomas moved to London to open business on Bond Street. Raeni Sawyer needed money and accepted a position at his teashop, despite not having the talent for serving. After a mishap, Thomas meets the beautiful Raeni and offers her a different position, that of his clerk. Will the closeness make them realize how perfect they are for each other? I love the little details in the book such as descriptions of Bond Street as they give a realistic perspective to the novella. 5/5
In Minerva Spencer’s A Second Chance for Love, Oona Parker gets reunited with Justin Taylor by chance after they had been employed in the same household ten years earlier. Justin, who held the position of a groom, had been let go for dallying and had believed that Oona, then the governess, had been the tattletale after discovering him in flagrante delicto. Thus, after a decade, he welcomes the opportunity to carry out the revenge he always desired, despite of having done well. Thus, he offers the beautiful but impoverished Oona money to act as his mistress for a week, keeping his reason a secret. Oona, having secrets of her own, accepts. Would she regret her choice, or would this adventure lead to a lifetime of love? This novella is well written and keeps the readers in the dark of all the events until the end. 5/5
I voluntarily read an Advanced Reader Copy of Shana Galen’s sixth Survivors book, A Duke a Dozen and the views expressed are my honest opinions. The Doomed Duke, Phineas Duncombe, ninth Duke of Mayne meets the Wanton Widow, Annabel Countess of Longstowe due to the peculiar circumstances his four elder brothers passed away.
After a rocky start, Phin realizes that the beautiful Countess is far more different than the ton believes. Despite the age gap, it does not take long for Phin to fall for her. When Annabel approaches Phin requesting his help to locate her daughter, she expects him his help at a price. But kind-hearted Phin who didn’t want or expect the dukedom surprises her by offering his help and friendship with no strings attached. Their journey to the country sheds light on the Countess’ marriage and the cruel, sadistic ways an elderly Earl had ensured his young Countess would remain faithful to him. During the journey, it also becomes apparent that the Dukes of Mayne might have been targeted by an enemy. Will Phin convince Annabel that it’s never too late for love or will he realize that he needs to do his duty to secure the line?
I commend Ms. Galen for her creativity in providing diversity in her books. Initially, I thought that an older heroine would not work. But the reader gets entranced with the plot and getting to know Annabel as the story progresses, one cannot help but feel for her past marriage years. Ms. Galen also includes an assortment of secondary characters, two of which having special needs. I love that Ms. Galen has included the perspective of one of them in the book, giving her a fierce spirit. Unfortunately, as with the Countess’ daughter, people with disabilities would have been locked away at the time. Ms. Galen has included a cute furry animal, this time a rabbit named Twitchy which needed saving from the pot. Towards the end of the book, we also get to meet Colin FitzRoy, another Survivor.
A sweet beginning to the Dove Pond series which introduces subsequent main characters as secondary characters in this novella. Sofia moves to Dove Pond with her autistic son Noah to oversee Ava Dove’s greenhouses. She rents Ava’s property next door to a recluse game developer Jake. After Jake’s fiancé, he barely left his house. Together with his bulldog and a bevy of ghosts, he believed it was what he wanted. Until the ghost of his former neighbour Doyle appears and refuses to leave until Jake listens to his advice. When a bet between school children makes Jake meet his neighbours, Noah refuses to back down from the chance to learn more about coding games. Thus, Jake, Sofia and Noah fit in a routine. But will this be enough for Jake to realize how precious life can be with the right person?
Project Duchess is the first book in the new series Duke Dynasty. Fletcher ‘Grey’ Pryde, the Duke of Greycourt has an unusual family, being the eldest of his stepsiblings, two of which are also Dukes. His mother was widowed and remarried two other Dukes and went to live abroad with her third husband.
Due to these circumstances, Grey had not seen his family for several years while he was increasing his holdings however the death of his stepfather sent him rushing to his mother’s side. This enabled him to meet the Wolfe cousins, Beatr
October 12, 2020
Loved this so much! What a wonderful read! Filled with romance, mystery, and a special treat of a little boy in the mix. Great feel good book! Highly recommend!
September 9, 2020
Gavin Carstairs, Marquis of Falkirk, and his young son, Rafe have taken sanctuary at the Duke of Devon's country estate after someone is attempting to kill him and Rafe. He has no idea why or who would be responsible for this threat but with protection in place for his son, he will find the answers. He finds a maid unpacking his bags and not trusting anyone, begins interrogating her. She is too intelligent, outspoken and has reflexes better than any trained soldier he had seen. Who is this Taffy and what is she doing here in a maid uniform? She was lovely, even in her maid's uniform and mobcap - he was finding an attraction which was not wise.
Taffy Ralston orphaned was adopted by a family when she was very young - they gave her safety, security and made sure she was well educated so she could make her own way in life. She has done that and become a smart Bow Street Runner with great skills. Taffy has on assignment at Hartland Abbey to protect the Devon family members over the Christmas holiday and after the family left, she was asked to stay on to protect the marquis and his son. Disguised as his maid, she is shocked to find him so handsome, young and the way he made her heart flutter.
The secrets about Taffy, their quick feelings toward one another & Taffy's instant love for Rafe happens quickly but the danger and unknown assailant takes some fast page turning to solve this mystery. Once solved, can the two leave each other as agreed or will society accept a love match between the future Duke of Inverness & a Bow Street Runner? Download it - it is an entertaining read with Meara Platt's signature humor, hunky hero, smart heroine & young boy to steal your heart!
I was gifted the Advanced Reader Copy of this book & all opinions are my own & have been voluntarily given.
Taffy Ralston orphaned was adopted by a family when she was very young - they gave her safety, security and made sure she was well educated so she could make her own way in life. She has done that and become a smart Bow Street Runner with great skills. Taffy has on assignment at Hartland Abbey to protect the Devon family members over the Christmas holiday and after the family left, she was asked to stay on to protect the marquis and his son. Disguised as his maid, she is shocked to find him so handsome, young and the way he made her heart flutter.
The secrets about Taffy, their quick feelings toward one another & Taffy's instant love for Rafe happens quickly but the danger and unknown assailant takes some fast page turning to solve this mystery. Once solved, can the two leave each other as agreed or will society accept a love match between the future Duke of Inverness & a Bow Street Runner? Download it - it is an entertaining read with Meara Platt's signature humor, hunky hero, smart heroine & young boy to steal your heart!
I was gifted the Advanced Reader Copy of this book & all opinions are my own & have been voluntarily given.
October 7, 2020
think this is the start of a new series by this author – with links to the Book of Love series, always good to hear of families we’ve met before.
Taffy is working undercover as a maid at the Duke of Devon estate in Yorkshire, as part of a protection team for the Marquess of Falkirk and his young son Rafe. Over the previous few weeks mysterious things have been happening around the Marquess, threatening his life, so he has stopped at a friends estate and has a full protection team to help him find the perpetrator(s).
When Taffy first sees the marquess she is stunned by not only his looks but his easy manner. Taffy’s boss feels that whoever is after the Marquess may attack his son first, so Taffy becomes his nanny/protector, and devises several games to help him protect himself in this strange house. Over the days Taffy and the Marquess get closer, until the perpetrator breaks into the house, and Taffy’s training is put to use.
I got taken by surprise a bit as expected the new series to be around Taffy or at least her job – but no! look forward to the next instalment - her brothers story.
Taffy is working undercover as a maid at the Duke of Devon estate in Yorkshire, as part of a protection team for the Marquess of Falkirk and his young son Rafe. Over the previous few weeks mysterious things have been happening around the Marquess, threatening his life, so he has stopped at a friends estate and has a full protection team to help him find the perpetrator(s).
When Taffy first sees the marquess she is stunned by not only his looks but his easy manner. Taffy’s boss feels that whoever is after the Marquess may attack his son first, so Taffy becomes his nanny/protector, and devises several games to help him protect himself in this strange house. Over the days Taffy and the Marquess get closer, until the perpetrator breaks into the house, and Taffy’s training is put to use.
I got taken by surprise a bit as expected the new series to be around Taffy or at least her job – but no! look forward to the next instalment - her brothers story.
December 6, 2020
You are the perfect fit
Taffy is a rare Bow Street runner tasked with protecting the Marquis and his very young impressionable son! She is an orphan and never knew her parents, beautiful, intelligent and extremely engaging! Gavin has an enemy and reluctant after recent attacks to place his trust in a young woman no matter how beguiling! His son immediately trusts and confides in Taffy and makes all the precautions as a game! Gavin is extremely drawn to her beauty and strength and does not how to navigate the distance in their stations! When Taffy puts her life on the line to protect his son all bets are off! Gavin will find a way to wed the one other person in his life he can't live without!!
Taffy is a rare Bow Street runner tasked with protecting the Marquis and his very young impressionable son! She is an orphan and never knew her parents, beautiful, intelligent and extremely engaging! Gavin has an enemy and reluctant after recent attacks to place his trust in a young woman no matter how beguiling! His son immediately trusts and confides in Taffy and makes all the precautions as a game! Gavin is extremely drawn to her beauty and strength and does not how to navigate the distance in their stations! When Taffy puts her life on the line to protect his son all bets are off! Gavin will find a way to wed the one other person in his life he can't live without!!
September 18, 2020
Tempting Taffy is a fun 'regency style' romance. Taffy is a bow street runner with an unknown past, she was abandoned as a child and given her name Taffy Ralston (nothing to do with being Welsh) but she doesn't know where she is from. As one of the most reliable and best runners, she is assigned to keep Gavin the Marquis and his young son safe. Once they spend some time together the sparks really begin to fly and they fall for one another.
This is an instalove romance, but being quite short it does need to be really. The romance was quite sweet, as was the growing relationship between Taffy and Gavin's son. Overall, this was a good read and a good addition to the House of Devon series.
This is an instalove romance, but being quite short it does need to be really. The romance was quite sweet, as was the growing relationship between Taffy and Gavin's son. Overall, this was a good read and a good addition to the House of Devon series.
October 27, 2020
Instant Love 💘
This is a fun, mysterious and entertaining story. Meara's books are always wonderful to read and Taffy and Gavin are right up on the scar of great characters that have you falling in love with. Little Rare is the cutest little munchkin that will steal your heart from the beginning, with his mischievous smile and you just want to hug him.
Meara brings to life wonderful characters that go through twists and turns to get their HEA and you can't help but keep wanting more.
I loved that Tardy was a Bow Street detective and that Gavin didn't bay an eye that she was to protect him and his son from a killer.
Looking forward to reading more of Meara Platt's books 📚
This is a fun, mysterious and entertaining story. Meara's books are always wonderful to read and Taffy and Gavin are right up on the scar of great characters that have you falling in love with. Little Rare is the cutest little munchkin that will steal your heart from the beginning, with his mischievous smile and you just want to hug him.
Meara brings to life wonderful characters that go through twists and turns to get their HEA and you can't help but keep wanting more.
I loved that Tardy was a Bow Street detective and that Gavin didn't bay an eye that she was to protect him and his son from a killer.
Looking forward to reading more of Meara Platt's books 📚
October 9, 2020
Easy read with enough romance and intrigue that definitely keeps it interesting.
Accidents that aren't accidents. A maid who isn't a maid. Footmen who aren't footmen. A murderer on a mission to kill a Marquis and his son won't find it easy to get through Taffy. She's a Bow Street Runner working undercover as a maid and her fellow Runners are footmen. Protecting Gavin and his son, Rafe, is Taffy's job. Falling in love was totally unexpected. Taffy's interaction with Rafe is so sweet and her interaction with Gavin is so hot!
Accidents that aren't accidents. A maid who isn't a maid. Footmen who aren't footmen. A murderer on a mission to kill a Marquis and his son won't find it easy to get through Taffy. She's a Bow Street Runner working undercover as a maid and her fellow Runners are footmen. Protecting Gavin and his son, Rafe, is Taffy's job. Falling in love was totally unexpected. Taffy's interaction with Rafe is so sweet and her interaction with Gavin is so hot!
September 13, 2020
So rarely do you see heroines in regency novels get to play the part of an *actual* heroine. Without giving too much away, Taffy has to be one of the most interesting regency women I have ever read about, and Gavin Carstairs and his young son are utterly charming. My only complaint about this book is that it isn't 100 pages longer! ;)
I received a free advance copy from the author. My review is voluntary.
I received a free advance copy from the author. My review is voluntary.
May 18, 2025
I really enjoyed this story. Taffy was an excellent agent and would do what she could to keep Gavin and Rafe alive. Her heart quickly fell for both father and son, and it drove her to be more vigilant. I loved how she played with Rafe and used it to train Rafe to be safe. Gavin was impressed and not fooled by her undercover position. He tried to stay professional but did not succeed. Danger, secrets, and love kept me turning the pages of this story.
This is my unsolicited review.
This is my unsolicited review.
October 7, 2020
Soo good
The final book in the house of Devon series is just amazing.. Meara delivered such an amazing story and it was filled with not only love but mystery and happiness and so much more.. Out of all of the books in the house of Devon collection.. This one is my favorite.. However each story were very delightful cheerful and splendidly done
The final book in the house of Devon series is just amazing.. Meara delivered such an amazing story and it was filled with not only love but mystery and happiness and so much more.. Out of all of the books in the house of Devon collection.. This one is my favorite.. However each story were very delightful cheerful and splendidly done
March 20, 2023
Great story!
Short, but not too short. Great action and balance between danger and romance.
Personally, I was disappointed in the epilogue. One of the issues in the story was resolved with negative results, and to balance that disappointment, I had hoped she would find out she was pregnant...
Short, but not too short. Great action and balance between danger and romance.
Personally, I was disappointed in the epilogue. One of the issues in the story was resolved with negative results, and to balance that disappointment, I had hoped she would find out she was pregnant...
October 7, 2020
My favorite!
Saved the best for last, in my opinion. This was my favorite of the series. Great characters, lots of suspense, and a happily ever after. Oh, and Rafe was adorable. All of the books in this series are great, highly recommend.
Saved the best for last, in my opinion. This was my favorite of the series. Great characters, lots of suspense, and a happily ever after. Oh, and Rafe was adorable. All of the books in this series are great, highly recommend.
September 11, 2022
A great adventure witha female Runner
I love Taffy, a female Bow Street Runner with fabulous skills. She charms and conquers the heroes and the villain.
I love Taffy, a female Bow Street Runner with fabulous skills. She charms and conquers the heroes and the villain.
September 11, 2022
A charming and delightful story, the romance was heartfelt. I loved everything about Taffy, Gavin and his gorgeous son Rafe.
October 6, 2020
So, so, so perfect.
Such a fun deviation from the usual. A widower trying to protect his son. A woman who is above the norm. Taffy is an orphan who holds an unusual position in the household and Gavin is in line to become the Duke of Inverness. Someone is after him and his son Raife. The relationship between Raife and Taffy is so sweet. Taffy has never known the real love of a family and she is so moved at the love between this father and his son. So moved that she will do anything to protect them. This story is full of so many tender moments and true love for a child needing affection. Excellent story.
Such a fun deviation from the usual. A widower trying to protect his son. A woman who is above the norm. Taffy is an orphan who holds an unusual position in the household and Gavin is in line to become the Duke of Inverness. Someone is after him and his son Raife. The relationship between Raife and Taffy is so sweet. Taffy has never known the real love of a family and she is so moved at the love between this father and his son. So moved that she will do anything to protect them. This story is full of so many tender moments and true love for a child needing affection. Excellent story.
October 7, 2020
A man on the run with his son, trying to evade a killer. A maid who was not really a maid and spoke her mind.
Can I just say, I loved this story from the start? When Gavin Carstairs, Marquis of Falkirk finds a maid putting up his clothes, once he and his son arrived at Hartland Abbey, he became suspicious. She was quick with her mind and reflexes and seemed to know about the attempt on he and his son's life that had just happened, hence his visit to the Abbey.
Taffy was a Bow Street Runner who often had assignments for the Duke of Devon and had been asked to watch over his house guest while he was gone. What she did not expect was how handsome he was. "This big Scot could melt the ice and snow on a frozen mountain tip with one steamy look." Yowza. "Big, muscled body. Full head of dark hair... and that brogue!" Sign me up!!
There was an instant attraction and I will leave it at that. A well written tale, with great characters (did I mention a Scot?) and a mystery that I could not wait to see what happened! AA++
Can I just say, I loved this story from the start? When Gavin Carstairs, Marquis of Falkirk finds a maid putting up his clothes, once he and his son arrived at Hartland Abbey, he became suspicious. She was quick with her mind and reflexes and seemed to know about the attempt on he and his son's life that had just happened, hence his visit to the Abbey.
Taffy was a Bow Street Runner who often had assignments for the Duke of Devon and had been asked to watch over his house guest while he was gone. What she did not expect was how handsome he was. "This big Scot could melt the ice and snow on a frozen mountain tip with one steamy look." Yowza. "Big, muscled body. Full head of dark hair... and that brogue!" Sign me up!!
There was an instant attraction and I will leave it at that. A well written tale, with great characters (did I mention a Scot?) and a mystery that I could not wait to see what happened! AA++
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