Sabrina Jeffries' "The Bachelor" from the Duke Dynasty series is a rollicking ride through Regency romance that had me hooked from the first page. Lady Gwyn Drake's big secret sets the stage for a thrilling tale of scandal and redemption. Enter Joshua Wolfe, the scarred and grumpy hero turned gamekeeper, whose duty to protect Gwyn adds an extra layer of tension to the story. Jeffries expertly weaves a plot filled with charm, historical flair, and just the right amount of steam. The banter between Gwyn and Joshua is nothing short of delightful, and I found myself chuckling at their witty exchanges. The Regency setting is vividly brought to life, complete with the parade of money-seeking bachelors that Gwyn would rather forget. As danger looms, the question of whether Gwyn will deflect the scoundrel's attempts or bare her heart to Joshua kept me eagerly turning the pages. While the book didn't quite hit the 5-star mark for me, the combination of a captivating storyline, a grumpy hero, and a secret from the past made it a thoroughly enjoyable 4-star read.

Sabrina Jeffries' Duke Dynasty series is fabulous. The first book in the series Project Duchess introduced the thrice widowed matriarch and her four offspring, three future or current Duke's and a spinster daughter Gwyn. At the conclusion of this first books the men realize that each of their father's could have been murdered and it made to look like an accident. They begin in make inquiries. This murder investigation is a theme in each of the books in the series and for that would should read them in order. However it is just a background thread to the plot of book 2, in which Lady Gwyn finds herself in a pickle with a man from her past.

Her brother Thorn is suspicious of Gwyn and asks Major Wolfe, brother to Bea from book one, to keep an eye on Gwyn while the family is in London for the season. The Major has other ideas....huzzah! Wolfe is worried his injury from his service in the Royal Navy could prevent him from capturing the villain threatening Gwyn, however Thorn assures him that he is the man for the job.

A wonderful book two in the series that finds love for the two characters who thought they would never be able to find someone who could love them because of supposed defects. I can't wait to read books 3 and 4. This series is perfect for romance fans. Lots of action, strong characters and a detailed plot make for an exciting read.

I really enjoyed the first one so it was really nice to be back with these characters in the sequel! I thought Gwyn was fun to follow especially because she was the opposite of Joshua. It was really cute how she would drawn him out of his seriousness! It was such a fun balance and they had really great chemistry. I love the bodyguard trope in romance so putting that into a historical romance made it even better for me. I really love Sabrina Jeffries writing and I need to pick up her other books! I recently purchased her Hellions series so I’m excited to dive into that next along with book 3!

I love all of Sabrina Jeffries' books and this one definitely lived up to my standards. I was instantly pulled into the story and finished it in one sitting because, why sleep? I love the addition of danger and suspense - it makes the adventure that much better.

I couldn't get into this title. I'm sure it's great for someone else, but I found this plot to not be that interested or engaging.

I recieved a free copy from netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I love this series and this book was not different.
Gywn has a secret and when she runs into a man from her past blackmailing her, she needs to be protected according to her brother.
So the duke hires his gamekeeper, his mothers nephew by marriage as her bodyguard.
Joshua was wounded in the war and wants nothing more than to return to his post.
The relationship between Gywn and Joshua was great. I especially liked Joshua.
Can't wait for the next book.

It was a good book, but great but it definitely had some really good parts. Enjoyable characters and a nice romance.

RATING: 3.5 STARS
2020; Zebra/Kensington Books

I really enjoyed the first novel in the Duke Dynasty series, Project Duchess. I was looking forward to the Bachelor as it featured Gwyn and (Joshua) Wolfe but I found it a bit slow. Gwyn has a twin, Thorn and is the only daughter of the Duchess. As she goes to her season she does not expect to fall for her sister-in-law's brother. Wolfe, the gamekeeper, is different than the other men who look at what she represents and brings to the marriage. Wolfe seems to want her and cares for her feelings. Wolfe wants a family but he thinks he's not good enough for Gwyn, as no other woman has ever looked at him. I am looking forward to the next novel, hopefully with more of the mystery arc through this series.

***I received a complimentary copy of this ebook/audiobook from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.***

This is Lady Gwyn Drake and Joshua Wolf’s story, book 2 in the Duke Dynasty series; a standalone, happily ever after, no cheating, historical romance with some sizzle.
The mix of intrigue, angst between the hero and heroine heated up the pages of this book. The author created a bumpy road to the happy ending. A 3.5 starts that rounds to 4.
I received an electronic copy of this book through NetGalley for my honest opinion.

I thought I'd already reviewed this one! I loved loved loved the grumpy hero! I thought Jeffries did an excellent job of timing all of the reveals so I never got frustrated with the heroine for withholding information.

Gwyn and Joshua's story in Sabrina Jeffries novel The Bachelor is a magnificent read the test the boundaries of romance. I adored reading this story and I'd recommend to all readers of romance!

Gwyn and Joshua are so stinking cute. Y'all, this was a great book. Gwyn is being blackmailed and Joshua is sent with her to London to be her bodyguard. Joshua was in the Royal Marines until he was injured. They're a cute couple. Perfectly paired.. Sabrina Jeffries has a knack for creating lovable characters.

Sabrina Jeffries was among the first romance writers I ever read, so a new book is always welcome. The Bachelor is second in the “Duke Dynasty” series, following Project Duchess. While it isn’t a cross-class romance because both hero Major Joshua Wolfe and heroine Lady Gwyn Drake are aristocratic, Joshua, as a third son, is poverty-stricken compared to Gwyn’s heiress-status. Blue blood, however, throws them together. Joshua, injured and at half-pay from the Royal Marines, acts as the Drakes’ Lincolnshire estate’s, Armitage Hall’s, gameskeeper. They are also connected by marriage: Joshua’s sister, Beatrice, is married to Gwyn’s half-brother, the Duke of Greycourt. When the romance opens, Gwyn is dealing with a blackmailing villain from her past, former-Captain Lionel Malet. Gwyn and Malet had an affair ten years ago, when Malet took advantage of her innocence and made promises he did not intend to keep. Now, he’d like a piece of her dowry in exchange for not ruining her reputation.

With her imminent presentation at court and social début, at the ripe old age of 30, Gwyn wants to protect herself and family from ignominy. When Joshua witnesses Gwyn’s meeting with Malet, he mistakes it for an attempted kidnapping. He goes straight to Gwyn’s twin, Marlow Drake, who asks Joshua to accompany Gwyn and their mother to London as bodyguard. What is an incipient attraction in Lincolnshire, with proximity, blossoms and flourishes between Gwyn and Joshua in London.

Our hero and heroine are likeable characters: Gwyn is funny, down-to-earth, and quick-witted. Joshua is honourable, also quite funny, and carries off his grump with endearing care and affection despite his pseudo-frowns. With Gwyn and Joshua in their 30s, and having experienced sufficient heartache (in Gwyn’s case, romantic; in Joshua’s, professional), there’s depth and poignancy to their characterization. As long as Joshua and Gwyn are in the room and bantering their way to love and commitment, the romance is engaging and heartwarming. However, in the second half, plot takes over big-time. If you’re a plot-lover, especially of the damsel-in-danger and suspense variety, you’re going to enjoy the romance’s turn. If you’re not, unless it’s coupled with continued character development as the primary focus, you’re not. I didn’t enjoy the second half as much as I did the first: the Malet plot went on too long, it was embroiled with England’s national interest intrigue, and, as a result of unfounded mistrust on both sides, it left Gwyn and Joshua keeping secrets and becoming unreasonably suspicious of each other.

A pleasant enough read, a delightful one in the first half, but not a romance that rocked my world. With Miss Austen, we deem The Bachelor, “almost pretty,” Northanger Abbey.

Sabrina Jeffries’s The Bachelor is published by Zebra Books, a division of Kensington Books. It was released in February and may be found at your preferred vendor. I received an e-galley, from Zebra Books, via Netgalley.

DNF
At this time, the book is a DNF for me. I had a hard time getting into the book and connecting with the characters even though the romantic set-up sounded right up my alley.

I liked this one a bit less than the first book of the series. While it was still a really nice story, I didn't feel the chemistry between the two characters as much.

Lydia Fletcher has been married three times, each time to a duke and each time giving birth to the heir to the dukedom. Her family is a mix of siblings, half siblings, cousins, and extended family members who are not even related to each other. This story involves two of those unrelated family members. Both Gwyn and Joshua have kept secrets from their family and each other. Joshua comes to Gwyn's rescue from one of her secrets, the villainous Captain Lionel Malet. However, she doesn't tell him or her brother the whole true about the encounter, which leads to Joshua being hired as her bodyguard during her season in London. In the beginning Gwyn and Joshua are like oil and water. As they spend more time together, an attraction develops, unraveling some of their secrets. To say more would ruin the twists Ms. Jeffries has put into the mix. This tale is a page turner, leaving the reader anxious to see what happens next to these two great characters. One of the things I love about series is the chance to catch up on characters from other books. I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series, Gwyn's twin brother's story.

Story intrigued me from the beginning. The characters captured me by the end of the first chapter. Very enjoyable, light read.

Normally I like Sabrina Jeffries, and I was excited to a darker plot line, but something about the book didn't suit me. It felt a little padded with other characters that I didn't connect with, and not just the characters from the previous series, and while there was an instant chemistry between Gwen and Joshua, it felt a little forced as did their resistance. The plot was a little choppy, but the storyline was enjoyable overall.

Fun read with witty banter and delightful characters by Sabrina Jeffries. I always appreciate any historical romance where at least one of the romantic leads is not aristocracy (better if neither of them are but that is almost never a thing, sadly). Solid character development, pacing was good, and overall a satisfying romance.

Lady Gwyn Drake has long protected her family’s reputation by hiding an imprudent affair from her youth. But when her former suitor appears at Armitage Hall, manhandling the heiress and threatening to go public with her secrets, it’s Gwyn who needs protecting. Her twin brother, Thorn, hires Joshua Wolfe, the estate’s gamekeeper, to keep her safe in London during her debut. As a war hero, Joshua feels obligated to fulfill the assignment he has accepted. But as a man, it’s torment to be so very close to the beauty he’s fought to ignore. With handsome Joshua monitoring her every move, Gwyn would prefer to forget both the past and the parade of money-seeking bachelors at her coming out. But Joshua is unmoved by her attempts at flirtation, and the threat of blackmail still hangs over her. With danger closing in, Gwyn must decide which is the greater risk: deflecting a scoundrel’s attempts to sabotage her—or revealing her whole heart to the rugged bodyguard she can’t resist
I am a huge fan of this author and look forward to reading each book she releases. I read the first book in this series and absolutely loved it! In that book, we were introduced to the entire family, including both of these characters. Their interactions in that book had me wanting them to get their own book and I got my wish! In this book We get to really know Gwen and Joshua. I absolutely LOVED Joshua. I really liked Gwyn but there were times when she acted reckless for the sake of being stubborn. I’m all for independence but not for the sake of putting yourself in harm’s way. Beyond that I just loved this book and can’t wait for the next book in this series. I highly recommend.
**I voluntarily read and reviewed this book