This has been an enjoyable foray into Regency England complete with a bit of intrigue, plenty of witty dialogue and a plot that kept me interested.

The first chapter has me hooked! I love a feisty heroine who is content to be on her own - and will definitely be getting the full book to read the rest of Gwyn’s story.

This is the second book in the Duke Dynesty series by Sabrina Jeffries. There are many characters, but the author thoughtfully provides a family tree, as Lydia Fletcher has survived three husbands and with 5 children, 2 nieces and a nephew, the reader needs this to remember who is who, especially when those with titles, have more than one name and nice names to boot.

The villain from the last book, Captain Lionel Malet, is back. After failing to kidnap an heiress last year, he is now blackmailing Lady Gwyn Drake, who 10 years had thought she had been in love with him, but her twin brother, Duke of Thornstock (Thorn), realizing that he was just after her inheritance, had bought him off. When Major Joshua Wolf, injured in battle and presently on half pay from the War Dept and currently living on the Armitage estate, sees Lionel attacking Gwyn, he forces him off the property and when he tells Thorn what happens, he is offered the job as bodyguard for when the family goes to London. The family is going to London because Gwyn and Thorn had been living in Berlin, so now at the age of 30 she is soon to have her debut and presentation in Court.Also to be presented is Beatrice, Joshua's sister who is now married Gwyn's half brother the Duke of Thornstock (Thorn). (See why you need the family tree?). Joshua accepts the job, because he wants to go London to try to get back into the Royal Marines. But once they get to London, Joshua and Gwyn, find danger, Joshua is give a new professional opportunity and they both fight off an attraction to each other because of misconceptions. They do end up with HEA, but the mystery of who has killed the last two Dukes of Armitage will continue into the next book.

Sabrina Jeffries is one of my favorite authors. Her characters are always real and fascinating and the plots captivating. I like the cover, because that scene actually happens in the book, though the male model is lacking the "dark curls dotting his upper chest". I won a paper copy of this book from Kensington Books, via Goodreads.com, but also an ARC from NetGalley. This is my unbiased and voluntary review.

Good book. I've been looking forward to this story since seeing Gwyn and Joshua in the first book, Project Duchess. The sparks between them were evident even then and burst into full flame in this book.

The story opens as Gwyn attempts to deal with a past indiscretion that has come back to haunt her. Her confrontation with her blackmailer is interrupted by Joshua Wolfe, the estate gamekeeper. Believing that the man intends to kidnap Gwyn to gain her dowry, Gwyn's brother, the Duke of Thornstock, hires Joshua to act as a bodyguard for Gwyn while she is in London.

At thirty years old, Gwyn is no longer a naïve young miss. Past experience has made her cynical about men, a feeling reinforced by the parade of fortune hunters she meets in London. She is spunky and not afraid to stand up for herself and go after what she wants. And what she wants turns out to be Joshua.

Joshua is a gruff, grumpy war hero, injured in the war against Napoleon. On half-pay from the Royal Marines, he is determined to get back on active duty. In the meantime, he works as the gamekeeper on Thornstock's estate. He is attracted to Gwyn but believes that his injuries and the differences between them prevent a relationship.

I enjoyed the development of the relationship between Gwyn and Joshua. The sparks are there from the beginning, and I loved watching them build. One of the things I liked best about Gwyn was that she didn't look down on Joshua for being the gamekeeper. He is the grandson of a duke and a war hero, and that is enough for her. She is also not put off by his injuries and is quite protective of him when she thinks he is being slighted. I liked how she saw the man beneath the grumpy exterior. I especially enjoyed her attempts to make him laugh and how good it made her feel when she succeeded. I loved Joshua's protectiveness toward Gwyn, which goes far beyond his bodyguard duties. He senses from the start that there is more to the story with Captain Malet than Gwyn or Thorn has shared with him. It was fun to see Joshua thwart Gwyn's attempts to get around him. I loved seeing them grow to trust each other and the boost that trust gave to the feelings that grew between them. I ached for Gwyn as her love for Joshua grew because she was afraid that if he knew everything about her past, he would reject her. The ending was great, as all the secrets were revealed and dealt with, and love conquered all.

The storyline with Captain Malet was excellent. His history with Gwyn created a lot of tension. There was Gwyn's fear that he would expose their past, not just ruining her, but also affecting her entire family. This wasn't his only run-in with Gwyn's family, as he also made an appearance in Seduction on a Snowy Night, Heywood and Cass's story. To complicate matters further, Joshua was also tasked with looking into Malet by the War Department. The final confrontation with Malet was intense. I loved how it worked out - Gwyn made me grin over what she did.

One of the best things about this series is the complexity of the family dynamics. One woman who has had three different husbands, all dukes. Five children by those three men, three of them now dukes in their own right. I loved the teasing and evident love among the family members and the way they support each other. The relationship between Gwyn and her brother has been strained, and we finally find out why. There are also ongoing questions and suspicions about the fathers' deaths that seem to run across the series. Looking forward to how that will play out.

After reading The Duchess Project, I was curious to see how the other sibling fare. I enjoyed reading this short teaser taste of the second story.

Thank you Ms Jeffries for including the "family tree" for the three ducal families in the front of the book; it helped me keep the siblings/titles straight. I liked Joshua in Project Duchess and enjoyed reading his story. Gwyn is already 30. She's a pragmatic young lady, but I felt at times she acted a bit immaturely. The thoughts of the characters and dialog were well-balanced. I received an advance copy in a give-away; the thoughts expressed are my own.

Thrilling, sexy, fun and engaging journey filled with interesting charters, witty dialog, heart racing twists and exciting turns. Was a great read from beginning to end. Really enjoyed this emotionally thrilling journey!

Lady Gwyn thinks fast on her feet, but I’m not sure if I’m going to like her. However, the first chapter does bode well for the rest of the book. (That’s my review for the first chapter excerpt.)

The Bachelor by Sabrina Jeffries is book two in her Duke Dynasty series. Though part of a series, this novel reads well as a standalone.

Lady Gwyn Drake is a 30-yr-old spinster being presented at the royal court in London. She thinks fast on her feet and can talk her way around and/or out of a bad situation, skills she needs to protect her secrets. A shady character from her past is putting Gwyn in danger, so her brother hires Joshua Wolfe to protect her.

Joshua Wolfe is a major in the Royal Marines and the temporary gamekeeper at Armitage Hall, Gwyn’s current home. He’s grumpy and standoffish, but takes the job watching Gwyn out of a sense of duty, though he has secrets of his own to protect.

The Bachelor has a sound premise and plot. It grabs and keeps the reader’s attention. The characterization is strong with believable and likable characters. Overall the dialogue is witty and smart with interesting internal character dialogue. This is a 5 out of 5 star read. There is some explicit sexual content, but if you’re not sensitive I still recommend this novel to readers of contemporary romance.

My thanks to Kensington Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book. However, the opinions expressed in this review are 100% mine and mine alone.

The Bachelor
Duke Dynasty Series - Book 3
By Sabrina Jeffries

Kensington Books - March 2020

Historical Romance


Lady Gwyn Drake really wanted to keep her past in the past. Unfortunately, Lionel Malet kept showing up. Now, he was blackmailing her to keep quiet about their past. Unfortunately, Major Joshua Wolfe showed up, quickly sent Malet away, but also insisted on returning Gwyn home, and informing her brother of the situation. Now, Major Wolfe would be working as her bodyguard in London.

Joshua's life wasn't going as he had planned. He had been critically injured, gone through a brutal recovery, and worked for his extended family. He received half-pay, but wanted to return as a Royal Marine. He could use this opportunity to pursue that goal, but he knew better than to assume Lady Gwyn would be an easy assignment. She was an independent headstrong woman and he had to use all of his skills to watch and protect her. She was also an attractive, fascinating woman that he had to remind himself would not be a part of his future.

The Bachelor was an exciting adventure bringing two strong-willed characters to their happily-ever-after. Joshua is a valid hero, of country, his family, and Gwyn. She deserves the best, and I enjoyed watching as he slowly realizes that the best, for her, is himself. As always, I enjoyed visiting familiar characters, and watching their bickering and caring for one another. The Bachelor was another enjoyable addition to the Duke Dynasty series and I am eager to return.

Kathy Andrico - KathysReviewCorner.com

Another series I love!
This is the second installment of the series. And it has everything that makes it a great read.

Joshua and Gwyn both have secrets. They have to learn to trust each other before they can have a life together. He doesn't think he is good enough for her and she thinks he deserves someone better than she. They will have to let go of the past to move forward. Good story.

Secrets often cause one problems and they always seem to find their way to the ears of others. Especially youthful indiscretions caused by a blackguard! Lady Gwyn Drake is being blackmailed by Lionel Malet, the man that she wanted to forget. But he is determined to obtain funds from her to keep his mouth shut. When she meets with him to ask for more time, he manhandles her and luckily their estate groundskeeper, Major Joshua Wolfe comes to her rescue. Gwyn has long been attracted to him but she does not want him to know what was going on with Malet.
Joshua is cousin to the current Duke and is doing his job until he can return to duty. He had been terribly wounded and still had problems with his leg but when Gwyn's brother the Duke of Thornstock requests he be her bodyguard while she is in London, he agrees. He wants answers though as to what is happening.
I loved these two and they were a perfect match. He, the wounded soul striving to get back to his work to feel useful I think. She a little wounded at what happened when she was young and trying to trust which was hard. Intrigue, humor secrets and an explosive attraction that will only make you sigh. Don't miss this story or anything written by this author. She is amazing!

The Bachelor by Sabrina Jeffries is book Two in the Duke Dynasty Series. This is the story of Gwyn Drake and Joshua Wolfe. I have read the previous book but did feel this could be a standalone book if you wish to do so.
Gwyn is being blackmail and threaten by Lionel Malet a man who she had made a long ago past mistake with that now he keeps threading to reveal. Malet has even tried to kidnap her but didn't succeed. Now her twin brother who is a Duke has assigned Joshua to be her body guard when they are in town. Joshua was injured in war and waiting for the home office to reinstate him but while waiting he is a gamekeeper for the Duke's estate. Gwyn and Joshua are both attracted to the other but try to not show it due to their status and the serious issue going on with them both. But it becomes to hard for both of them to do and they start to give into their feelings...but danger is still there for them. Enjoyed their story!

***4 STARS***

I greatly anticipated the second book in the Duke Dynasty series. Lady Gwyn Drake is being blackmailed by an old paramour, Lionel Malet, of a secret she does not want revealed. Believing that she is in danger of being abducted Gwyn’s brother, the Duke of Thornstock, enlists Major Joshua Wolfe to be her bodyguard. Joshua is somehow related to the family (I’m still confused over the family dynamics) and is the gamekeeper. He is also “semi-retired” from military service and suffers from PTSD. It is a lot to keep up with...lol.

Although trying to keep up with who is related to whom, this was quite an enjoyable read. I loved Joshua’s tough, broody, grumpy nature and how Gwyn draws him out of his shell. The sparks definitely shoot between these two...who knew archery was so seductive? I loved the characterization including secondary characters and the camaraderie among the siblings. I believe Ms. Jeffries wrote another gem.

I highly recommend. I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Lady Gwyn Drake has had a secret for ten years. A secret that could ruin her as well as her family’s reputation. She had been seduced by Lionel Malet and then bought off by her twin brother Thorn. She has not forgiven him. Now Malet is blackmailing her for money for him not to tell her family or everyone what happened. Thorn has hired Joshua Wolfe as her bodyguard to protect her as she is also an heiress. It doesn’t take long for Joshua to figure out everything isn’t as it seems. A great story once again by Sabrina Jeffries that anyone that likes historical stories should enjoy reading. I received an advance copy from NetGalley and this is my honest review.

Lady Gwyn Drake is the twin of a duke and the half-sister of two more (it's complicated) so, even at the ripe old age of thirty, she is considered a catch. So her family is taking her to London for the marriage mart even though she's not exactly excited about it. You see, she has a Secret Past. And while her twin knows part of it, he doesn't know everything. Too bad the Secret part of her Past is threatening to reveal the Super Secret part if Gwyn doesn't pay him off. She decides to threaten the man with a gun (that she doesn't know how to shoot) but ends up being saved by the brother of the woman marrying her twin (who is also her mother's third husband's nephew... it's still complicated).
Joshua Wolfe gives Gwyn all the feels and he feels the same. But he's "damaged" having been hurt in the war to the point that he has to walk with a cane and his injuries (and, tbh general disposition) make him super grumpy. He rescues her from the blackmailer and is asked to come to London to be Gwyn's bodyguard.
So forced proximity ensues as well as a touch continuation of the mystery from the first book (which you don't have to have read but it would make it a lot easier to understand what the heck is going on in this book.) Overall, an okay book with a lot of drama and misunderstandings. Gwyn was a little more "Woe is I" than I expected and the ending was a bit twee but I'm still excited to see the next book go on sale.

Three stars
This book came out February 25th
Follows Project Duchess
ARC kindly provided by Kensington Books and NetGalley
Opinions are my own

i really need to get my hands on this book because the first chapter got me hooked.
I like the writing style .

What a great entertaining story! Gwyn is a force to be reckoned with, she's knows her own mind and is willing to express it and she's no shrinking violet, wanting to learn to shoot...not exactly the role of a lady. When it's time for her debut into social, a little later than norm at thirty she has to handle a problem from her past. Major Wolfe is not ready for his newest assignment as bodyguard to such a spitfire. This book has it all, great banter, fun characters, sexual tension, blackmail, humor, wounded hero and high spirits, a really engaging story.

The Bachelor by Sabrina Jeffries is a Regency romance to which I was given access to Chapter 1. The story starts off with a newspaper announcement and escalates from there...with blackmail. It is an intriguing start. I was given this chapter by Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. My opinion is solely my own. #netgalley #thebachelor

I honestly did not realize this was only a chapter excerpt. I tired to read it with an open mind and enjoy even though it was short. It seems like a good story that had promise. Exciting characters and a blackmail story I'm sure will lead into a relationship between her and her rescuer. All in all it had promise and one day I'm sure I will read the rest.

I received the first chapter excerpt. It didn't impress me. I didn't like the heroine. She seemed TSTL to me. I like the hero better. From what I've read, I am not encouraged to read the entire story.