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The Wishing Well #3
Birdie and the Beastly Duke
A battle-scarred duke. A substitute bride. A dangerous secret that brings them together.
The Honorable Roberta Talbot is tired of being the practical one in her family. As the impoverished daughter of a reckless baron, she has spent years supporting her mother and siblings. When a chance-meeting brings an opportunity for adventure her way, Birdie grabs hold and takes it… all the way to a haunted castle in Scotland and into the domain of its beastly lord.
A tormented past…
Captain Gabriel Eversleigh never expected to become the Duke of Dunross. Racked by survivor’s guilt after the Battle of Waterloo, Gabriel wishes for nothing more than to be left in alone in his tower. Bound by honor to fulfill his promise to wed a girl he has never met, Gabriel plans to be a husband in name only.
But the bold young woman who arrives as his bride is irksomely determined to upend both his life and his castle. Worst of all, she pulls on the strings of a heart he thought was long since dead.
A committed wife…
Determined to turn her sham of a marriage into the real-thing, Birdie not only confronts the ghosts of Gabriel’s past but stirs up a dangerous secret hidden deep within the castle walls.
But when Gabriel discovers he’s married the wrong bride, will their love be able to flourish, or will his softening heart harden once more?
This Beauty and the Beast variation is a sweet Regency romance that is part of the Wishing Well series; however, it can be read as a separate story.
Trigger Warning: Even though there are no graphic descriptions of violence in this book, topics of war, PTSD, and suicide play a role in the main characters’ pasts.
The Honorable Roberta Talbot is tired of being the practical one in her family. As the impoverished daughter of a reckless baron, she has spent years supporting her mother and siblings. When a chance-meeting brings an opportunity for adventure her way, Birdie grabs hold and takes it… all the way to a haunted castle in Scotland and into the domain of its beastly lord.
A tormented past…
Captain Gabriel Eversleigh never expected to become the Duke of Dunross. Racked by survivor’s guilt after the Battle of Waterloo, Gabriel wishes for nothing more than to be left in alone in his tower. Bound by honor to fulfill his promise to wed a girl he has never met, Gabriel plans to be a husband in name only.
But the bold young woman who arrives as his bride is irksomely determined to upend both his life and his castle. Worst of all, she pulls on the strings of a heart he thought was long since dead.
A committed wife…
Determined to turn her sham of a marriage into the real-thing, Birdie not only confronts the ghosts of Gabriel’s past but stirs up a dangerous secret hidden deep within the castle walls.
But when Gabriel discovers he’s married the wrong bride, will their love be able to flourish, or will his softening heart harden once more?
This Beauty and the Beast variation is a sweet Regency romance that is part of the Wishing Well series; however, it can be read as a separate story.
Trigger Warning: Even though there are no graphic descriptions of violence in this book, topics of war, PTSD, and suicide play a role in the main characters’ pasts.
171 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 1, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 142 reviews
October 14, 2025
It was a cute and clean Beauty and the Beast retelling, which I enjoyed against my better judgement.
Birdie swaps lives with a girl she meets on a mail coach. Instead of becoming a governess, she travels to Scotland to marry a stranger, who happens to be a duke, because Britain had approximately 578942 dukes at the time.
There were some very jarring historical inaccuracies, which I didn’t appreciate, and a few plot holes that made me roll my eyes. However, other than that it was a fun read. There was a tormented, scarred hero with PTSD, and a heroine who fought for what she wanted. I loved how she didn’t take his BS and did what she thought was best.
All in all, 3.5 stars rounded up and let’s check out some more dukes.
Birdie swaps lives with a girl she meets on a mail coach. Instead of becoming a governess, she travels to Scotland to marry a stranger, who happens to be a duke, because Britain had approximately 578942 dukes at the time.
There were some very jarring historical inaccuracies, which I didn’t appreciate, and a few plot holes that made me roll my eyes. However, other than that it was a fun read. There was a tormented, scarred hero with PTSD, and a heroine who fought for what she wanted. I loved how she didn’t take his BS and did what she thought was best.
All in all, 3.5 stars rounded up and let’s check out some more dukes.
June 29, 2021
If Bridgerton and Beauty and the Beast had a baby, you'd get "Birdie and the Beastly Duke". With a dose of Phantom of the Opera thrown in for good measure, this delightful Regency romance takes the reader on an adventure to a gothic castle in Scotland, where a governess named Birdie tempts fate by switching places with a young woman who wants to run away from her arranged marriage. Instead, Birdie marries the disfigured man she's never met- a crestfallen soldier who inherited a dukedom after returning from Waterloo, broken and reclusive.
I absolutely loved Birdie's boisterous attitude and determination to take matters into her own hands at every turn. Her duke, Gabriel, reminiscent of a pirate with his eye patch and outdated clothes, does his best to repel her, intending to establish her away from him in London while fulfilling his late father's wishes to provide for the daughter of his friend. But Birdie won't be driven away; she's determined to keep her wedding vows to love, honor, and obey the husband she willingly married, and to bring light and life back to the castle and the village. I found it heartwarming to witness Gabriel's healing through Birdie's presence and to see their love blossom under these conditions.
If you enjoy the Beauty and the Beast trope and marriage of convenience/arranged marriage romances, you'll definitely love Birdie and Gabriel's story.
I absolutely loved Birdie's boisterous attitude and determination to take matters into her own hands at every turn. Her duke, Gabriel, reminiscent of a pirate with his eye patch and outdated clothes, does his best to repel her, intending to establish her away from him in London while fulfilling his late father's wishes to provide for the daughter of his friend. But Birdie won't be driven away; she's determined to keep her wedding vows to love, honor, and obey the husband she willingly married, and to bring light and life back to the castle and the village. I found it heartwarming to witness Gabriel's healing through Birdie's presence and to see their love blossom under these conditions.
If you enjoy the Beauty and the Beast trope and marriage of convenience/arranged marriage romances, you'll definitely love Birdie and Gabriel's story.
July 5, 2025
Fluffy and sweet retelling of Beauty and the Beast 💗
July 2, 2021
Mostly enjoyable though the last 30% of the book wasn't as satisfying as I would have liked. Birdie running away and some other parts had me rolling my eyes as did her unwillingness to speak with him in private. There was no need for it to be in front of her friends and really ruined it for me.
Also I found Birdie scarfing down everyone else's food rather distasteful as well.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Also I found Birdie scarfing down everyone else's food rather distasteful as well.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
May 4, 2022
This was a combination of my two favorite troupes - Marriage of Convenience and Beauty and the Beast. Overall, I enjoyed the story by it was lacking some things for me. For one, there’s just no chemistry there. There’s only a few chaste kisses with no mention of much description. I do like my books clean with no on page content, but I do also like some romantic tension. This one fell short for me. It also needed some editing help. There were several short, disjointed scenes that didn’t make much sense.
July 8, 2025
3.5 stars
June 26, 2021
*** The Pauper and the Captain ***
I really enjoyed reading this book. It took me by surprise Birdie's character made me laugh out loud. A determined, responsible, logical, resourceful, tender and caring young woman. Captain Gabriel Eversleigh honored his father's last wish and married a stranger site unseen. Gabriel was an interesting character. Doubt, guilt, uncertainty, low self-esteem and terrible PTSD from fighting the war against Napoleon. In the beginning he was timid because of his looks. He suffered burns which disfigured him on one side of his face. When Birdie entered his life she turned his world upside down. Birdie's mother always reminded her she was not beautiful and was too big. But surprise, surprise Gabriel saw her as a real beauty with a luscious figure of a woman. Even with the age gap between them Birdie matched Gabriel in every way. As Gabriel condemned himself to living in solitude, not caring for anything nor anyone Birdie showed him what he could have if he would just let himself take it. A wonderful story. I highly recommend it.
I received an Advanced Readers Copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Reasons I enjoyed this book:
Easy-to-read
Funny
Haunting
Inspirational
Page-turner
Unpredictable
Wonderful characters
I really enjoyed reading this book. It took me by surprise Birdie's character made me laugh out loud. A determined, responsible, logical, resourceful, tender and caring young woman. Captain Gabriel Eversleigh honored his father's last wish and married a stranger site unseen. Gabriel was an interesting character. Doubt, guilt, uncertainty, low self-esteem and terrible PTSD from fighting the war against Napoleon. In the beginning he was timid because of his looks. He suffered burns which disfigured him on one side of his face. When Birdie entered his life she turned his world upside down. Birdie's mother always reminded her she was not beautiful and was too big. But surprise, surprise Gabriel saw her as a real beauty with a luscious figure of a woman. Even with the age gap between them Birdie matched Gabriel in every way. As Gabriel condemned himself to living in solitude, not caring for anything nor anyone Birdie showed him what he could have if he would just let himself take it. A wonderful story. I highly recommend it.
I received an Advanced Readers Copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Reasons I enjoyed this book:
Easy-to-read
Funny
Haunting
Inspirational
Page-turner
Unpredictable
Wonderful characters
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September 28, 2025FREE today (September 28, 2025) on Amazon.
June 28, 2021
What an enjoyable story and I loved the characters especially the spunk of Birdie. She was used to taking charge in situations and given the situation she got herself into that had her marrying a stranger, she made the best of it. I loved Birdie- she came from a family that depended on her to make things function. When her father committed suicide after gambling away the family fortune including her dowry- they were expecting her to support her mother and siblings. On her way to a job she wasn't looking forward to as a governess, she met Cecily Burns on the mail carriage. The girl was crying and had no desire to fulfill her father and his friend's wishes for her to marry a man she had never met.
When Birdie arrived at the Scottish mansion- it had no servants not even a cook and the house needed a thorough cleaning. After meeting Captain Gabriel Eversleigh, the Duke of Dunross she was taken aback by the war wounds scarring his face including an eye patch. Determining to go through with the marriage- she was not leaving to go back to London as the Duke expected her to do.
When Birdie- Roberta Talbot agreed to switch places with Cecily to marry a military captain in Scotland she had no idea she would be marrying a duke. Her school friend Arabella had made a wish years before that herself and three other school friends would all marry dukes. Her marriage made three out of four friends now married to dukes with the fourth friend not yet married.
Captain Gabriel Eversleigh never wanted to be a Duke but when a relative he didn't even know died he inherited the title, the Duke of Dunross as well as the shambles that was left behind. Gabriel had been the only survivor of the group of men he commanded at the the Battle of Waterloo. As a result he carries guilt for his decisions and after arriving in Scotland, he had become a self imposed hermit. When he finally remembered his father's last request to marry an old friend's daughter, he sent for her. He didn't plan on a real marriage just a way to protect her and provide for her. After marrying Birdie. he expected her to leave but when she refused and began to make his house a home- she set his life upside down. Birdie was just what Gabriel needed to help him make peace with his past.
What will happen to this marriage when Gabriel discovers he married the wrong woman and that he had been deceived?
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
When Birdie arrived at the Scottish mansion- it had no servants not even a cook and the house needed a thorough cleaning. After meeting Captain Gabriel Eversleigh, the Duke of Dunross she was taken aback by the war wounds scarring his face including an eye patch. Determining to go through with the marriage- she was not leaving to go back to London as the Duke expected her to do.
When Birdie- Roberta Talbot agreed to switch places with Cecily to marry a military captain in Scotland she had no idea she would be marrying a duke. Her school friend Arabella had made a wish years before that herself and three other school friends would all marry dukes. Her marriage made three out of four friends now married to dukes with the fourth friend not yet married.
Captain Gabriel Eversleigh never wanted to be a Duke but when a relative he didn't even know died he inherited the title, the Duke of Dunross as well as the shambles that was left behind. Gabriel had been the only survivor of the group of men he commanded at the the Battle of Waterloo. As a result he carries guilt for his decisions and after arriving in Scotland, he had become a self imposed hermit. When he finally remembered his father's last request to marry an old friend's daughter, he sent for her. He didn't plan on a real marriage just a way to protect her and provide for her. After marrying Birdie. he expected her to leave but when she refused and began to make his house a home- she set his life upside down. Birdie was just what Gabriel needed to help him make peace with his past.
What will happen to this marriage when Gabriel discovers he married the wrong woman and that he had been deceived?
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 25, 2022
This was a delightful medley of the marriage-of-convinience and beauty-and-the-beast tropes. The characters were amazing and I especially loved Birdie's take-charge attitude and her ability to work any situation to her benefit. Gabriel was such a dear and I loved how he allowed his smitten side shine through when he realised he was powerless to fight the forces of love.
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June 22, 2021
Gabriel Eversleigh, Duke of Dunross, is broken inside. He is badly scared and disfigured from the Napoleon wars. He hiss in his tower room from the world. After finding the letter again from when his father died, he sends one to Cecily Burns the woman his father had betrothed him to before the war.
Cecily was crying on the mail coach non-stop so Roberta Talbot decided enough was enough. She has fixed all the issues in her family so far, so this would work to. However, Cecily has a different idea. After telling Birdie the full tale, she blurted out that to fix it two should change places.
Now Birdie was on her way to marry a complete stranger under a false name. What a grand adventure it was to be. Upon her arrival only an old retainer showed her to a lovely room, announce the wedding at 10 o'clock the next morning and left her along. Cold, tired, and hungry, Birdie goes on search of food. After fixing herself something she gets lost in the way back to her room and stumbles upon what she thinks is a ghost. Screaming she runs back mercifully to her room and locks herself in.
This is the starting of the book. Birdie keeps herself busy and refuses to need Gabriel's request to leave. With ghosts, mysteries, unexplained drafta, and creeks throughout the castle, what will happen next.
Come along on a fantastical journey to find out what will happen to Gabriel and Birdie. What about Higgins the butler who refuses to give up his family's life long legacy. Will Birdie be happy? Will Gabriel ever leave his tower room? What about the creeks, drafts, and ghost? Will Birdie ever figure out who is behind the childish pranks?
Read this magical story with brilliant characters, great world building and see for yourself.
Cecily was crying on the mail coach non-stop so Roberta Talbot decided enough was enough. She has fixed all the issues in her family so far, so this would work to. However, Cecily has a different idea. After telling Birdie the full tale, she blurted out that to fix it two should change places.
Now Birdie was on her way to marry a complete stranger under a false name. What a grand adventure it was to be. Upon her arrival only an old retainer showed her to a lovely room, announce the wedding at 10 o'clock the next morning and left her along. Cold, tired, and hungry, Birdie goes on search of food. After fixing herself something she gets lost in the way back to her room and stumbles upon what she thinks is a ghost. Screaming she runs back mercifully to her room and locks herself in.
This is the starting of the book. Birdie keeps herself busy and refuses to need Gabriel's request to leave. With ghosts, mysteries, unexplained drafta, and creeks throughout the castle, what will happen next.
Come along on a fantastical journey to find out what will happen to Gabriel and Birdie. What about Higgins the butler who refuses to give up his family's life long legacy. Will Birdie be happy? Will Gabriel ever leave his tower room? What about the creeks, drafts, and ghost? Will Birdie ever figure out who is behind the childish pranks?
Read this magical story with brilliant characters, great world building and see for yourself.
July 1, 2021
Birdie’s story.
Be careful what you wish for because it may be a whole lot more than you expect that is what Roberta Talbot found when she decided to have an adventure in Scotland. Captain Gabriel Eversleigh now the Duke of Dunross expects to have a marriage in name only and guess what he going to get more than he expected too. This was a grand beauty and beast type story the characters were great. I loved how this chance just fell into Roberta's lap when she met Cecily. There are a few bumps in the road you might say and it was so entertaining to read about what was happening and how the characters were dealing with it all. There are some serious issues too that had to be work through but it was woven well in the piece. I highly recommend this gem hope you check it out. I did receive a free copy of this book from Booksprout and voluntarily chose to review it.
Be careful what you wish for because it may be a whole lot more than you expect that is what Roberta Talbot found when she decided to have an adventure in Scotland. Captain Gabriel Eversleigh now the Duke of Dunross expects to have a marriage in name only and guess what he going to get more than he expected too. This was a grand beauty and beast type story the characters were great. I loved how this chance just fell into Roberta's lap when she met Cecily. There are a few bumps in the road you might say and it was so entertaining to read about what was happening and how the characters were dealing with it all. There are some serious issues too that had to be work through but it was woven well in the piece. I highly recommend this gem hope you check it out. I did receive a free copy of this book from Booksprout and voluntarily chose to review it.
June 30, 2021
This is my first read by this author and i thoroughly enjoyed every page of this book. Also this is book 3 of the series but it was fine to read first but i do want to go back and catch up on the first 2 since i liked this one so much! What else could you ask for Roberta & Gabriel are wonderful characters that you pull for from the beginning to the last page. An underdog heroine, a beastly lord with a tragic past and a mysterious haunted castle...im in! The storyline is well put together and i recommend this book.
I was gifted this book as an ARC and this is my voluntary and honest review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I was gifted this book as an ARC and this is my voluntary and honest review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
November 21, 2025
To be honest, I wasn't expecting much b/c this was a freebie eBook. I figured it would at least be a quick so/so read.
I must say, I was surprised by how much I enjoyed the story. It was very good.
It's a play on Beauty and the Beast fairy tale.
The beast is a duke (Gabriel) who's been disfigured in the war and sulkily sits in his eerie castle hiding from the world. Beauty (Birdie) is a charming girl who enchants everyone she meets.
The villagers are wary, but she slowly wins them over.
There was a lot of humor that had me chuckling out loud. Some suspense.
This is the 3rd book in the series, but I hadn't read any of the other books. The reader isn't lost having not read them, but you realize there are stories behind Birdie's friends.
Overall, I would recommend this, and it is a heartwarming, lightweight romance story.
I must say, I was surprised by how much I enjoyed the story. It was very good.
It's a play on Beauty and the Beast fairy tale.
The beast is a duke (Gabriel) who's been disfigured in the war and sulkily sits in his eerie castle hiding from the world. Beauty (Birdie) is a charming girl who enchants everyone she meets.
The villagers are wary, but she slowly wins them over.
There was a lot of humor that had me chuckling out loud. Some suspense.
This is the 3rd book in the series, but I hadn't read any of the other books. The reader isn't lost having not read them, but you realize there are stories behind Birdie's friends.
Overall, I would recommend this, and it is a heartwarming, lightweight romance story.
June 19, 2021
The Honorable Roberta Talbot, known as Birdie, has spent her life supporting and organising her feckless, impoverished aristocratic family.
On her way to yet another governess job she comes across Cecily. Distressed to be going to an arranged marriage to a stranger, Cecily suggests that they swap. Soon Birdie is on her way on an adventure, all the way to a haunted castle in Scotland and into the domain of its beastly lord.
Captain Gabriel Eversleigh never expected to become the Duke of Dunross. Racked by survivor’s guilt after a disaster at the Battle of Waterloo, Gabriel became a recluse in his castle.
To honour his father’s dying request, Gabriel promises to marry a girl he has never met, a family friend left orphaned and destitute. Gabriel plans to be a husband in name only.
Birdie is determined to turn her sham of a marriage into the real-thing, Birdie not only confronts the ghosts of Gabriel’s past but stirs up a dangerous secret hidden deep within the castle walls. But when Gabriel discovers he’s married the wrong bride, will their love be able to flourish, or will his softening heart harden once more?
Birdie is indomitable and Gabriel is lovely underneath his wounded surface.
I really loved this book and couldn't put it down.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review. All views expressed are my own.
On her way to yet another governess job she comes across Cecily. Distressed to be going to an arranged marriage to a stranger, Cecily suggests that they swap. Soon Birdie is on her way on an adventure, all the way to a haunted castle in Scotland and into the domain of its beastly lord.
Captain Gabriel Eversleigh never expected to become the Duke of Dunross. Racked by survivor’s guilt after a disaster at the Battle of Waterloo, Gabriel became a recluse in his castle.
To honour his father’s dying request, Gabriel promises to marry a girl he has never met, a family friend left orphaned and destitute. Gabriel plans to be a husband in name only.
Birdie is determined to turn her sham of a marriage into the real-thing, Birdie not only confronts the ghosts of Gabriel’s past but stirs up a dangerous secret hidden deep within the castle walls. But when Gabriel discovers he’s married the wrong bride, will their love be able to flourish, or will his softening heart harden once more?
Birdie is indomitable and Gabriel is lovely underneath his wounded surface.
I really loved this book and couldn't put it down.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review. All views expressed are my own.
June 30, 2021
This historical romance is absolutely wonderful! I loved it!! It is super sweet and has fantastic characters. Heartwarming and definitely not to be missed..
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
February 22, 2025
This was a fun gothic inspired read. I didn't like it as much when we got to discovering the big secret of the villagers, but I enjoyed the love story and the lovesick characters immensely.
couldn-t-finish
March 13, 2025Audiobook. Not fond of the narrator, couldn’t finish.
March 6, 2024
This was a part of a series thar I haven't followed. It could be read alone, but it does refer to previous books.
I really enjoyed this one. I loved the strength and tenacity of Birdie, and what Gabriel suffered through the war brought a tear to my eye.
It got a bit muddled about 1/2 way in with that whole smuggling business, which was brought up and handled a bit too neatly for my taste.
But other than that, yeah, I may find the time to go back and read the previous books and the following.
I really enjoyed this one. I loved the strength and tenacity of Birdie, and what Gabriel suffered through the war brought a tear to my eye.
It got a bit muddled about 1/2 way in with that whole smuggling business, which was brought up and handled a bit too neatly for my taste.
But other than that, yeah, I may find the time to go back and read the previous books and the following.
April 14, 2024
3.5 stars
Loved it. The characters, the landscape, the plot, the gentle humor - it was all masterfully done. The next book by Laporte beckons me.
Loved it. The characters, the landscape, the plot, the gentle humor - it was all masterfully done. The next book by Laporte beckons me.
July 1, 2021
Fantastic story line, great characters. Sweet romance (nothing but the word kiss mentioned) If this book had gone through proper proofing and editing it would have been outstanding however the choppiness of the layout and several other items disrupted my pleasure of it. The author actually has a strong writing style but it just needs a little help.
I have not read any of the other books in the series but it seems they can all be stand alone although there is a lot of backstory mentioned in this that has to do with the girls in the other books.
I will say for US readers that this is written using UK English which of itself is not bothersome for me however there is usage of words that may be slightly taken out of context. For example: there was mould on the walls, meaning the rotting stuff, not as in crown moulding or to mould/shape something as would commonly be found in US based English.
Overall this book screamed the need for an editor and proofreader as there were several mistakes noted. The use of though instead of thou for the wedding vows. Calling Captain, Colonel.
There are also several short scenes which to me made the book feel disjointed, it didn't seem to flow nicely.
I also questioned the time period because although it is mentioned Gabriel fought at Waterloo, and this takes place several years after, it did not feel like the 1820's to me, it felt too modern. There were also some mentioning of how many years he had been a recluse in his tower which didn't match up.
I liked the premise of this story but the lack of editing killed it for me.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I have not read any of the other books in the series but it seems they can all be stand alone although there is a lot of backstory mentioned in this that has to do with the girls in the other books.
I will say for US readers that this is written using UK English which of itself is not bothersome for me however there is usage of words that may be slightly taken out of context. For example: there was mould on the walls, meaning the rotting stuff, not as in crown moulding or to mould/shape something as would commonly be found in US based English.
Overall this book screamed the need for an editor and proofreader as there were several mistakes noted. The use of though instead of thou for the wedding vows. Calling Captain, Colonel.
There are also several short scenes which to me made the book feel disjointed, it didn't seem to flow nicely.
I also questioned the time period because although it is mentioned Gabriel fought at Waterloo, and this takes place several years after, it did not feel like the 1820's to me, it felt too modern. There were also some mentioning of how many years he had been a recluse in his tower which didn't match up.
I liked the premise of this story but the lack of editing killed it for me.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
January 23, 2025
I bought the collection that this book is part of and tbh it was the only one I got close to enjoying.
I liked the premise but the execution was awful. The heroine is awful and the depiction of a girl who ate everything in sight seemed really insensitive. The story was full of tedious stereotypes and I wondered if the author knew anything about Scotland other than the clearances. Sorry but the story switched track so many times I got dizzy and ‘Birdie’ - why on earth did anyone think that was a good name? - irritated me beyond belief. Dishonest, interfering, officious, insensitive and totally self absorbed. The hero was interesting but we got no real exploration of him and there was not a jot of chemistry.
I hated the scene at the end where Birdie refused to let him speak to her alone. I didn’t see why he had to grovel. Sorry this just wasn’t my cup of tea and the closed door approach seemed totally inappropriate to me. This was a relationship which developed through intimacy - physical as well as mental - and a better insight into that side of the relationship would have helped show the love that developed. There was little else to support the idea that they fell in love.
Never mind, the author clearly has a lot of fans - so I won’t be missed.
I liked the premise but the execution was awful. The heroine is awful and the depiction of a girl who ate everything in sight seemed really insensitive. The story was full of tedious stereotypes and I wondered if the author knew anything about Scotland other than the clearances. Sorry but the story switched track so many times I got dizzy and ‘Birdie’ - why on earth did anyone think that was a good name? - irritated me beyond belief. Dishonest, interfering, officious, insensitive and totally self absorbed. The hero was interesting but we got no real exploration of him and there was not a jot of chemistry.
I hated the scene at the end where Birdie refused to let him speak to her alone. I didn’t see why he had to grovel. Sorry this just wasn’t my cup of tea and the closed door approach seemed totally inappropriate to me. This was a relationship which developed through intimacy - physical as well as mental - and a better insight into that side of the relationship would have helped show the love that developed. There was little else to support the idea that they fell in love.
Never mind, the author clearly has a lot of fans - so I won’t be missed.
July 10, 2024
Unfortunately, so far this series has been steadily marching downhill since the first book. I am downright afraid to pick up the next book.
The silliness and nonsense increases book over book, reaching my personal threshold of tolerance in this one.
The writing somehow is getting worse, which doesn't make sense to me. In this book the pacing was so messed up that a less than 200-page book felt never-ending: the narrative went in starts, stops and backtracks — just as it built momentum, making me feel like I was forced to read everything twice. Yes, there is a perspective shift where that happens, but not all the backtracks were narratively interesting enough to justify either the interruption to a more interesting scene or the recounting of a bunch of uninteresting ones.
I can't say that I liked either of the main characters here, even after I cut the hero a whole lot of slack for a bunch of likely mental health issues, however unrealistically portrayed they were. I also had to make severe adjustments for the heroine's youth, but even that didn't help much.
That was another issue I found problematic: she is 21, he is 35 — that is a very hard dynamic to pull off. It is exacerbated by the fact that she acts like a teenager a lot of the time. To be fair, his mental and emotional maturity might have stagnated for the past 3 years at least, but that gives us something along the lines of ~17 and ~32, which is downright icky.
I also did not appreciate the clumsy attempt at "size inclusivity" in this book, or whatever that was. Especially since the author chose to link it to one of the most harmful stereotypes of the extra "round" character exhibiting compulsive eating of any food placed before her and being driven and motivated by constant hunger for more food. It is so bad that I can see how some people might find this characterization triggering. It was a choice. I probably wouldn't have found it so problematic had the book been written back in 19th century, but since the author lives in modern times and our modern understanding and values had clearly influenced the narrative and characterizations in the story, I found that particular choice irresponsible, to put it mildly. So much so, that I am questioning whether this book deserves the second star I gave it.
The silliness and nonsense increases book over book, reaching my personal threshold of tolerance in this one.
The writing somehow is getting worse, which doesn't make sense to me. In this book the pacing was so messed up that a less than 200-page book felt never-ending: the narrative went in starts, stops and backtracks — just as it built momentum, making me feel like I was forced to read everything twice. Yes, there is a perspective shift where that happens, but not all the backtracks were narratively interesting enough to justify either the interruption to a more interesting scene or the recounting of a bunch of uninteresting ones.
I can't say that I liked either of the main characters here, even after I cut the hero a whole lot of slack for a bunch of likely mental health issues, however unrealistically portrayed they were. I also had to make severe adjustments for the heroine's youth, but even that didn't help much.
That was another issue I found problematic: she is 21, he is 35 — that is a very hard dynamic to pull off. It is exacerbated by the fact that she acts like a teenager a lot of the time. To be fair, his mental and emotional maturity might have stagnated for the past 3 years at least, but that gives us something along the lines of ~17 and ~32, which is downright icky.
I also did not appreciate the clumsy attempt at "size inclusivity" in this book, or whatever that was. Especially since the author chose to link it to one of the most harmful stereotypes of the extra "round" character exhibiting compulsive eating of any food placed before her and being driven and motivated by constant hunger for more food. It is so bad that I can see how some people might find this characterization triggering. It was a choice. I probably wouldn't have found it so problematic had the book been written back in 19th century, but since the author lives in modern times and our modern understanding and values had clearly influenced the narrative and characterizations in the story, I found that particular choice irresponsible, to put it mildly. So much so, that I am questioning whether this book deserves the second star I gave it.
December 20, 2025
An unconventionally annoying young lady disrupts a broken recluse's life, forcing him into the open and stealing his heart. Sounds good, right?
Almost, but the author missed the mark.
The tension was present, there were some really interesting things unfolding in the story, the characters were flawed and likeable, and I liked the bits of humour that snuck in, but it felt like the book was a first draft that got polished and published when it really needed a good amount of developmental editing.
The biggest problem I found while reading it was the sense the author hadn't settled on what the story was going to be. One minute it's light-hearted and humorous (and I think this is the path it should have taken), and the next it's over dramatic and too serious. The thing that would have set it apart from other fluff as a light historical romance is the humour, almost like it is having a go at the genre. The heroine is very unconventional. She's clever, practical, does what she wants, and not traditionally beautiful. Not at all. She has agency and she uses it. Life doesn't happen to her. She happens. Amd other characters and happenings in the book made it feel like the author was almost having a go at the genre, and having fun while doing it. And I think the whole book needed that. The inconsistency, the sudden lapses into taking itself too seriously, were confusing.
I also didn't really enjoy how the heroine was eyeballing everyone's food and eating their leftovers. It made me feel uncomfortable. But that's just me.
Almost, but the author missed the mark.
The tension was present, there were some really interesting things unfolding in the story, the characters were flawed and likeable, and I liked the bits of humour that snuck in, but it felt like the book was a first draft that got polished and published when it really needed a good amount of developmental editing.
The biggest problem I found while reading it was the sense the author hadn't settled on what the story was going to be. One minute it's light-hearted and humorous (and I think this is the path it should have taken), and the next it's over dramatic and too serious. The thing that would have set it apart from other fluff as a light historical romance is the humour, almost like it is having a go at the genre. The heroine is very unconventional. She's clever, practical, does what she wants, and not traditionally beautiful. Not at all. She has agency and she uses it. Life doesn't happen to her. She happens. Amd other characters and happenings in the book made it feel like the author was almost having a go at the genre, and having fun while doing it. And I think the whole book needed that. The inconsistency, the sudden lapses into taking itself too seriously, were confusing.
I also didn't really enjoy how the heroine was eyeballing everyone's food and eating their leftovers. It made me feel uncomfortable. But that's just me.
February 28, 2022
This book definitely has a Beauty and the Beast flavor. And it all feels very gothic in nature. Some might think it wrong of a Duke to ignore the people that he should be leading especially when he had been a good leader in the war but this poor Duke is so scarred by the war that he can't see past himself and also, he never expected to be a duke so he wasn't brought up to know what one might need to do in that role. He is just so far down a dark hole he can't see any way to reach ground level much less climb the mountainous role thrust upon him. But then enters Birdie and she is a determined soul. And while her decision seems out of character for her dutiful self, she is also adventurous. Anyone who was a close friend to Lucy had to be willing to take risks and break rules. So it shouldn't be too surprising really. I liked both of Birdie and the Duke and was happy to see their growth over the course of the book. Couldn't stand her brother though. He still wasn't redeemed in my mind even at the end, though he maybe made some progress.
I am enjoying this series and look forward to the next one which I will begin as soon as I'm done writing this. :)
Possible triggers: war, PTSD, & suicide though it mostly happens prior to the beginning of the book
Sex: no
Language: no
Violence: yes
I am enjoying this series and look forward to the next one which I will begin as soon as I'm done writing this. :)
Possible triggers: war, PTSD, & suicide though it mostly happens prior to the beginning of the book
Sex: no
Language: no
Violence: yes
July 2, 2021
Birdie was tired of being the sensible one that her family depended on and craved adventure. Nonetheless, she was on the stagecoach enroute to a new governess job to financially assist her family. Also riding along was a young girl who was crying uncontrollably because she was being sent to marry a man she neither knew nor loved. One thing led to another and the women switched identities. Gabriel, the Duke of Dunross, who returned from the war a scarred and broken man, was determined to honor the marriage arrangement his now deceased father had made for him. After Gabriel and Birdie married, he was determined to send her back home to her family with his name and some money. Ha! He soon learned that Birdie could be quite determined and stubborn. This book has multiple mishaps, lies, secrets, substories, arson, illegal activities and wonderful characters. Birdie has her quirky moments; Higgins is a crack shot, whiskey loving dinosaur of a butler; Freddie is a chatterbox fop and Gabriel is a kind and emotional man suffering from survivor’s guilt. This story is clever, original, entertaining, hard to put down and oh so good
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 3, 2021
Just What He Needed . . .
Roberta Talbot (“Birdie”) was used to taking charge in every situation since the entire family depended on her to take care of them after her father killed himself for gambling away the family funds. When she met a young lady, Cecily Burns, who was upset at having to marry a stranger in Scotland, Birdie was ready for an adventure and they changed places.
Birdie arrived at a dirty, run-down Scottish mansion with no staff. She met Captain Gabriel Eversleigh, Duke of Dunross, who was scarred and miserable. But she was determined to follow through with the marriage, despite his expectations that she would leave afterward. He had never wanted to be a Duke. He was still suffering from survivor’s guilt after Waterloo where his men perished. He just wanted to be alone and atone in silence. But he remembered his promise to marry his father’s old friend’s daughter, in name only, in order to provide for her future, so he had sent for her. Birdie now refused to leave him and started to clean up their home. Her strong take-charge personality and commitment ethic was exactly what Gabriel needed to get him out of his self-imposed exile. But how will he react when he finally discovers that he was tricked into marrying the “wrong” woman?
Roberta Talbot (“Birdie”) was used to taking charge in every situation since the entire family depended on her to take care of them after her father killed himself for gambling away the family funds. When she met a young lady, Cecily Burns, who was upset at having to marry a stranger in Scotland, Birdie was ready for an adventure and they changed places.
Birdie arrived at a dirty, run-down Scottish mansion with no staff. She met Captain Gabriel Eversleigh, Duke of Dunross, who was scarred and miserable. But she was determined to follow through with the marriage, despite his expectations that she would leave afterward. He had never wanted to be a Duke. He was still suffering from survivor’s guilt after Waterloo where his men perished. He just wanted to be alone and atone in silence. But he remembered his promise to marry his father’s old friend’s daughter, in name only, in order to provide for her future, so he had sent for her. Birdie now refused to leave him and started to clean up their home. Her strong take-charge personality and commitment ethic was exactly what Gabriel needed to get him out of his self-imposed exile. But how will he react when he finally discovers that he was tricked into marrying the “wrong” woman?
July 18, 2021
Birdie was left destitute by her father's suicide and her brother's gambling ways. She felt responsible for providing for her family. She was off to be a governess when she met a young woman who was distraught about an arrange marriage she was being forced into. She suggested that they change places; which they did.
When Birdie arrived at the castle, she realized she was to become the wife of a duke who really didn't want the role or title. He was scarred both physically and emotionally from his experiences in the Napoleonic Wars. He had become a recluse living in the tower of the castle where he didn't have to interact with anyone.
Birdie wanted to be a wife and mother and she was determined to help the duke see what she began to see; that he was a kind-hearted man she began to fall in love with. But she needed to convince the villagers to give the duke a chance. She was also keeping a secret that could destroy all she began to desire for her life. How would she find true happiness with it hanging over her head?
This is a sweet, Regency style retelling of the Beauty and the Beast fairytale. I thought the story was well written and the characters fit perfectly into the story.
I was given an arc copy of this book and I willingly offer my honest review.
When Birdie arrived at the castle, she realized she was to become the wife of a duke who really didn't want the role or title. He was scarred both physically and emotionally from his experiences in the Napoleonic Wars. He had become a recluse living in the tower of the castle where he didn't have to interact with anyone.
Birdie wanted to be a wife and mother and she was determined to help the duke see what she began to see; that he was a kind-hearted man she began to fall in love with. But she needed to convince the villagers to give the duke a chance. She was also keeping a secret that could destroy all she began to desire for her life. How would she find true happiness with it hanging over her head?
This is a sweet, Regency style retelling of the Beauty and the Beast fairytale. I thought the story was well written and the characters fit perfectly into the story.
I was given an arc copy of this book and I willingly offer my honest review.
October 26, 2022
This was such a fun story! It had most everything you could want in a story: sweet moments, charming interactions, laugh out loud moments, intrigue and a hint of mystery, and an endearing romance.
Birdie was a truly fantastic, refreshing, and relatable heroine. She was hilarious and a delight to read. I really liked Gabriel a lot too. He was a great leading man, with rough edges and heartache that Birdie steadily smooths and helps heal. The two of them together were a delightful mix of heart and humor, and I enjoyed seeing their love story play out.
Higgens was also a great side character, providing some ridiculous comedy on one side and adding to the plot on the other.
The only thing I didn’t really like is that there were a couple inconsistencies with characters’ features and names. That, and sometimes Gabriel’s character felt a little off with the way he was written- a few times reading like a modern younger man rather than a regency era captain-turned-duke in his thirties. So, some of the dialogue and descriptions could have used a bit of good old spit and polish.
But I did honestly really like this one a lot and was able to easily read it in a day. I’ll definitely be reading Penny’s story!
Birdie was a truly fantastic, refreshing, and relatable heroine. She was hilarious and a delight to read. I really liked Gabriel a lot too. He was a great leading man, with rough edges and heartache that Birdie steadily smooths and helps heal. The two of them together were a delightful mix of heart and humor, and I enjoyed seeing their love story play out.
Higgens was also a great side character, providing some ridiculous comedy on one side and adding to the plot on the other.
The only thing I didn’t really like is that there were a couple inconsistencies with characters’ features and names. That, and sometimes Gabriel’s character felt a little off with the way he was written- a few times reading like a modern younger man rather than a regency era captain-turned-duke in his thirties. So, some of the dialogue and descriptions could have used a bit of good old spit and polish.
But I did honestly really like this one a lot and was able to easily read it in a day. I’ll definitely be reading Penny’s story!
February 18, 2024
Oh, how I loved this book! It is a sort of "Beauty and the Beast" retelling, and it is so adorable!
In this story, Birdie is on her way to be a Governess to make money for her family that spends more than they have. In the same coach is a crying girl who is on her way to marry a man she doesn't love because her deceased father wanted the match. So she and Birdie switch places.
Right away, when Birdie walks into the gothic castle, it just sets up the vibes perfectly. I was trying to figure out how the Duke would be the Beast. I kept waiting for the furniture to come to life. There is none of that, but it does have its own "Don't touch that" scene. The Duke Gabriel was severely disfigured in the Napoleonic Wars. He's disfigured in his heart and soul, too.
Birdie takes it upon herself to fix up the castle and employ the villagers. She sets up a school, much to the dismay of many of the men. I worried through the whole book about who was setting up the fake ghosts. I somehow did not see what was going on. Were there clues that I missed?
And when Gabriel comes to get her? Oh, swoon! I could so picture it in my mind. I loved that whole scene. Gabriel and Phillip were just the roses on the icing.
In this story, Birdie is on her way to be a Governess to make money for her family that spends more than they have. In the same coach is a crying girl who is on her way to marry a man she doesn't love because her deceased father wanted the match. So she and Birdie switch places.
Right away, when Birdie walks into the gothic castle, it just sets up the vibes perfectly. I was trying to figure out how the Duke would be the Beast. I kept waiting for the furniture to come to life. There is none of that, but it does have its own "Don't touch that" scene. The Duke Gabriel was severely disfigured in the Napoleonic Wars. He's disfigured in his heart and soul, too.
Birdie takes it upon herself to fix up the castle and employ the villagers. She sets up a school, much to the dismay of many of the men. I worried through the whole book about who was setting up the fake ghosts. I somehow did not see what was going on. Were there clues that I missed?
And when Gabriel comes to get her? Oh, swoon! I could so picture it in my mind. I loved that whole scene. Gabriel and Phillip were just the roses on the icing.
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