This was a bit slow moving to start out with, but overall, I really enjoyed it! Joshua was so grumpy and hid behind his injury. It was once he was forced to constantly be around Gwyn that we got to see how wonderful he was. It usually is the toughest ones that fall the hardest. And I absolutely adored Gwyn’s strength of spirit. To bear the burden of her past alone for so long was admirable. I loved these two characters separately, but together they were perfect for each other. Just a note...This can be read as a standalone, but there were bits and pieces that probably would have been more understandable had I read the first in the series. And while the main issue in this story was resolved, it’s clear that there is a bigger, ongoing issue involving the entire family and series.

I received an ARC of The Bachelor by Sabrina Jeffries from Netgalley. This is the story of Gwyn, a Duke's daughter and Major Joshua Wolfe, a Duke's grandson. These two people belong to a family, are part of a family, yet desire a recognition of their own selves and feel needed and wanted for who they truly are. Joshua is asked to be Gwyn's bodyguard to protect her from a potential kidnapping. Fate has a plan all of her own when the attraction becomes irresistible, steamy and sensual. Sabrina Jeffries continues to enchant me with her romantic novels.

The Bachelor is the second book in the Duke Dynasty series.
Rating: 3 stars

The Bachelor was a good read. Lady Gwyn and Major Wolfe were both likable characters. They both have survived a difficult past. A past where they are still suffering the consequences of their choices.
I loved how protective Joshua was of Gwyn and how she made his day to day a little better. She soothed him in his moments of anxiety. Plus, their chemistry was off the charts. Once they kissed they had a hard time stopping. Those scenes were very sexy.
They both went through blackmail and attempted murder. Their bantering was very entertaining. The story was very well paced.

Thank you to the publisher Kensington Books (Zebra) for providing me with an ARC for review.

Wooohoooo, that was fun, super sexy, and so much fun to read. Loved the chemistry that was built up especially in the previous book and set the foundation for this great read. I love how well all the characters come together the story was timed so well I didn’t want to put it down. And of course questions are answered, but of course a few more have come up. I can’t wait!

A beautiful and delightful story of love and acceptance .Acceptance not only of society or people or family but accepting and loving oneself also.both our protagonist are cynical of love and marriage due to unfortunate past behaviours.they have instanst attraction and chemistry.the heroine is spunky,strong and head strong .the hero generally wastes time in self pity but is likeable.their interactions are very entertaining.overall a good solid story.

Thank you netgalley for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Unfortunately I was not taken by this historical romance. The hero was very bland and such a stickler for what's proper that I grew increasingly bored. The heroine was fierce but did not hold my my interest. Just not my cup of tea.

This is the second book in the new Duke Dynasty Series. We meet Grey, the Duke of Greycourt half brother to Lady Gwyn Drake and her twin the Duke of Thornstock in book one. His new wife, Beatrice is sister to Major Joshua Wolf who is the gameskeeper for their cousin Sheridan, who is the Duke of Armitage. Now if all that is now confusing enough, Gwyn and Thom mother is also Beatrice and Joshua's Aunt by marriage.
Gwyn has a secret that she has been keeping for ten years from everyone. When a young Lady she was taken advantage of by one Captain Lionel Malet. He is a nasty, thief and tried to abduct a heiress from
the Christmastide party last year. Joshua helped with getting rid of him. Now he comes across Gwyn and Lionel on a bridge also on the Armitage estate. He keeps Lionel from hurting her and lets her brother know.
Gwyn is upset with Thom knowing as they are all going to London for the Season. Gwyn had a affair with Lionel when she was just twenty and he is blackmailing her to keep quiet. When Thom learn Lionel is back he enlist Joshua as her bodyguard to follow her everywhere and keep her safe. Gwyn is besides her self for a couple of reasons. If he is with her all the time she will not be able to meet Lionel and give him the money to keep him quiet. But the most upsetting problem for her is that she will be spending a lot of time with one Major Wolf who she has a crush on. Even being in the same room with him makes her blush and get tongue tired.
Unknown to her, Joshua is having problems being around her too, he keeps dreaming of doing things with her that he know he could never do as he feels he is not good enough for her.
Joshua see's himself as not only the poor relation but also a lame soldier who now works for his cousin.
He is also hiding facts behind gruff way around people. When he is in crowds any loud sudden noise puts him right back at the war. He reacts with temper first before knowing where he is .
He was badly wounded in the war and only saved by his sister's care. A clear case of PTSD but they didn't know what that was back then.
As Joshua and Gwyn go around London and try to find what Lionel is up to. They can not stop the attraction
from growing between them. As they find more ways to be alone. Falling for each other is a sure thing.
As danger closes in, will Lionel win, can Joshua and Gwyn over come all the problems between them to find a happy ever after ???
There is a great depth of feelings in this story. Both sides have a lot to over come.
Lots of twist and turns and a fast read. Hope you get a copy and settle in as you will not want to put it down.
I can't wait for the next book. I received and ARC from the author and would like to thank her. It was great.
I am giving my honest opinion voluntarily.

Y’all, "The Bachelor,” let me tell you-

If you haven't read Sabrina Jeffries novella "A Perfect Match" in the "Seduction in a Snowy Night "collection, stop now and do so. I would really consider it 1.5 of the series but it's also a fun read on its own.

Man, who doesn't love a grump. Am I right? There's something to be said for the guy who always has the right thing to say, who gets the lines that turn you into a puddle. But when a grumpy one gives you a sly smile, sigh, it just feels so well earned. Joshua is grumpy in all the best ways: fiercely loyal and loving in a brooding way towards his sister; protective and wonderfully distressed over his attraction to Gwyn; underestimating his self-worth or the worth of his ripped arms.

Gwyn is our Herione and I really enjoyed her character. She is very independent, very determined, very opinionated but all in the best ways. She didn't push her opinions in your face or demand that people see her as independent. She stood up for herself when necessary but never in a way that was right in your face. She's confident in who she is, but not obnoxious about it. Aaaand that’s probably the most I have ever written about a female lead. Yay for Sabrina and Gwyn.

For me, there was so much more conversation and connection between the H/H than in Project Duchess. They were just really great together- very supportive and down to earth with each other. I felt like this wa a very strong second inclusion to the series.

"Love is like drinking fire and trusting it not to burn you though it seems to burn everyone else.”

Alrightly, they’ve kissed, we STILL don’t know who the murderer is, and I’ve told you about it!

I am a long-time Sabrina Jeffries fan. There is just something about her writing that is so lovely. This book is no exception. Reading it feels like coming home. Gwyn is a wonderful blend of sweet, strong, and smart. Joshua is brooding, honest, and gruff. You can see from the first encounter in the book that they are a perfect match for each other - regardless of their standing or inequity of rank.

Gwyn has a very complicated family. Her mother has been married three times to three different Dukes. She and her twin brother are the product of the second marriage. She is, even after many years, struggling to come to terms with guilt and shame (however misplaced) over a romantic liaison she had with a pretty nasty guy. Ten years later she hasn't been able to move past it and feels determined to stay unmarried forever. She still seems at odds with her brother and withdrawn from her family.

Joshua is a royal marine who was seriously and permanently injured in the war. He is now struggling significantly with how to find and unexpected place in the world. He feels alternately unworthy of anyone but at the same time bristles at being thought "less."

Both Joshua and Gwyn are drawn to each other - but are being kept apart by believing there is no way the other person could ever want them. They both drive people away before they can be let down by them. to see them come together and support each other is extremely heartwarming. In finding each other, they each find a way to move forward.

Gwyn's struggles are particularly hard to watch - because she felt so alone and shamed by what happened. It is something that might be hard for modern women to understand, but I think still resonate today.

Overall - I really enjoyed this story of two lonely people finding each other. I didn't read the first story in this series (I have no idea how I missed it) but I think other than some confusion over the family situation I was fine reading this as a standalone!

I received this as an ARC from NetGalley, but these opinions are all my own!

To begin with I just read an excerpt/taste of the newest Sabrina Jeffries book coming in 2020.
There was just enough to make you want more.

I have now read an ARC of this book in it's entirety. This is one of Jeffries better books.I only wish that the original offering was the entire book and not just an excerpt.

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.
Gwyn's 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.

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.

With danger closing in, Gwyn must decide which is the greater risk: deflecting a scoundrel's attempts to sabotage her or surrendering her heart to the rugged bodyguard she can't resist.

I have read many of Sabrina's books over the years. I started reading them in paperback before I even knew what an e-book was. They seldom disappoint me but I was originally disappointed to receive just an excerpt. Now that I have read the entire book I hope to do it justice.
I gave this book 4.5 of 5.0 stars for story line, plot and character development.
I received a complimentary ARC of this book to read. This is my honest opinion of this book which I voluntarily reviewed.

Lady Gwyn has managed to reach the age of 30 without marrying or even having a London Season. She has her reasons for this--secret reasons--but now she is about to go to London for a reluctant whirl through the eligible bachelors. When she's threatened by someone from her past, her ducal twin brother engages the services of Joshua Wolfe, the ex-Marine and gamekeeper with a limp and a bad attitude, as a bodyguard. Joshua's new job is to keep a close eye on Gwyn, which would be much easier if he weren't already distracted by her. And he knows neither twin is telling the truth about the danger.

I'm really enjoying this series. Jeffries has created a rich world of characters, as well as a very complicated family tree (three brothers are all dukes, plus there are myriad other half-siblings and cousins). Gwyn and Joshua have terrific chemistry and good communication, both of which made their story a pleasure to read.

The Bachelor is a fabulous historical romance by Sabrina Jeffries. Ms. Jeffries has provided readers with a well-written book populated with an entertaining, lovable cast of characters. Gwyn is being blackmailed by a former beau that threatens to spread her secrets. Joshua is a wounded Major, hoping to get back to service, meanwhile working for Gwyn's brother and now as her bodyguard. Gwyn and Joshua's story is packed with drama, humor, sexy bits, action and suspense. I enjoyed every page of this book and look forward to my next book by Sabrina Jeffries. The Bachelor is book 2 of the Duke Dynasty Series but can be read as a standalone. This is a complete book, not a cliff-hanger.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book that I received from NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I'm not sure what it is about a wounded Officer, that makes a book even better. Not the wounded part, just everything they have to overcome. Gwyn is wonderful, constantly looking out that others are treating Joshua with respect. Which I found kind of funny considering all of the lies that she kept from him.

I received an advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review

Sweet and spicy, with one of the more affable heroes and daring heroines I’d seen in a while. Sabrina Jeffries never disappoints!

I enjoyed the first one so much I couldn't help but just dive into this one since I had the eARC! I loved Joshua and Gwyn from the first book so I knew this one would be good!

Gwyn has done somethings in her young that she is trying to keep secret but then he rears his ugly head demanding money to stay quiet or he will tell all to the scandal rags! When Joshua finds them together and it looks like the man is trying to harm Gwyn he steps in. He also tells her brother about it because the man is a scoundrel they have had dealing with before.

Gwyn even though really almost to old for the marriage mart is having her first debut in London, so Thorn decides to hire Joshua to be Gwyn's bodyguard. Joshua isn't real thrilled about it and neither is Gwyn but it's either him or Thorn and she will take Joshua. Joshua has plans to try and get back into the Royal Marines and get off of half pay but it doesn't go so well for him but he does end up with a job that suits him and it involves spying on the same guy that he is supposed to be protecting Gwyn from.

Joshua sees himself as always being a bachelor because of his war wounds and not being able to use his leg well, he has a cane to help himself around. He has feelings for Gwyn but she is an heiress and knows there is no way she would ever want to marry a cripple on half pay salary. So having to be around her all the time is unbearable, especially having to watch other men dance with her. Gwyn has her reason for staying unmarried all this time and figures she will never marry because once a man finds out her past they will not want her, and she really doesn't want Joshua to find out as she really likes him.

The two main characters are so great and they definitely belong with each other and I had a lot of fun with them. The banter between the two was great. Gwyn is beautiful and bold while Joshua has the broody sexy thing going on, they both had things they had to overcome and it was just well...fun to read about.

I can't wait to read the next one that is about Thorn who swears he is not looking for a wife...lol.  If you enjoy historical romances and just need a fun escape I would recommend this series!

I really enjoyed the relationship between Gwyn and Joshua. The author really let us into the minds and hearts of the characters and their motivations. However, the story seemed to move slower than I usually enjoy. This was a good read, but it wasn't one that I just had to keep reading.

Joshua and Gwyn's story was irresistible! This book was a read in one sitting book. I could not put it down. The author has made the reader care about this family. I cannot wait to read the next book in this series.

Having read the first book in the Duke Dynasty series, I was looking forward to reading the second book and the author did not disappoint! I really enjoyed Gwyn and Joshua's story and of course, it's always fun to see characters from the previous book again:)

I loved Gwyn's character, even though her secret causes her great angst, she's so spunky and isn't afraid to stand up for herself. I also loved Joshua's character, a wounded soldier that is gruff and a loner but has such a good heart and I so enjoyed the banter between the two of them. Passions soon flare and although he doesn't deem himself good enough for her, he can't resist her and it's up to her to make him realize he IS worthy. Being her bodyguard, they get in some dangerous situations and her being blackmailed is not helping the situation any!!

I received an ARC of this book via NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving an honest review.

3.5 Stars

Gwyn is currently being blackmailed by the man who ruined her (no one knows she is ruined). Joshua witnesses one of their meetings and everyone believes the man is trying to kidnap Gwyn. Gwyn’s brother Thorn decides she needs a bodyguard and hires Josh to protect her when she travels to London for her debut. Gwyn finds herself attracted to the grouchy veteran and Josh struggles with feeling worthy of her attention.

This book deals with a lot of individual secrets and it’s mostly at the end of the book when the full picture starts to become clear. Gwyn is 30 and is not interested in marriage, because the only experience she had with a man ended horribly. Also, all of the men in her life seem to do nothing but make decisions for her without discussing them with her. There are many moments throughout the book where I felt Josh really stuck his foot in his mouth, but as the book goes on, he gets better.

This book brings up a lot of serious topics: guns, miscarriages, PTSD, the treatment of veterans. I specifically loved that Josh and Gwyn have a conversation regarding children in marriage. Most people don’t have the conversation “will you still be happy if we can’t have children” conversation prior to marriage. Gwyn knows this could be an issue, so Josh has to choose her.

Overall, I enjoyed this book and I’m so excited to read the next one. There is a larger family mystery happening that I am very invested in!

This book was everything that I expected, Sabrina binds all of her stories with an on-going mystery and this one hints at the greater mystery but there is a link between thew previous book and this one. The villain from Heywords story is the true villain of Gwyn and Joshua's story. Both of the main characters were so loveable and perfect. Gwyn was so vulnerable yet strong and I loved her for her vulnerability.