The blurb says “A virgin widow running her own company. A man who returns home after years at sea. An oddly-matched couple who may not be so incompatible after all… “ and it just perfectly sums up this story!

Visiting his father’s dockside warehouse, young James ends up pressed onto a vessel where his memories are almost literally beat out of him. It’s only years later and after he’s become captain of his own ship, that an old acquaintance recognizes him jogging his memory of once being part of a grand family - and he simply can’t set sail without getting to the bottom of this mystery.
Sophie is sold off to a much older shipping magnate to clear her father’s debts. Happily for her, her new husband treats her with care and respect, teaching her everything she needs to know to take care of his legacy - his shipping empire. Her husband’s death and being cast out by society, leave her lonely and even more so, craving human touch since her late husband never did…

This a beautiful and very romantic tale. He’s honorable to the bone, struggling to find his bearings in his new old life, and she’s ever so reasonable and practical. And then Cupid hits… scrambling everything!
His best friend is pure gold (I do hope he gets his own book!) and his family is everything except for an evil uncle with a sidekick. No simpering misses - the ladies are resilient and strong. There’s a ton of wrongs to right, a little extra drama and an indecent proposal. A lot of common sense, gut feelings and following instinct - and when he messes up, he steps up and makes it right.
This story flows easily and it’s witty and fun, not super steamy, but still quite delicious with some naughty bedroom lessons, and it was a joy to read!
A wonderful start to a new series!

Sold into marriage, one that actually treated her well, Sophie Grant is unwilling to give up the financial freedom she won when her elderly husband died. The captain of the Vesta is something of a surprise to Sophie, but she has no intention of giving up her rights as a widow, even to the most alluring of men. When an accidental meeting reveals James' origins, his memory is jogged and bits and pieces of his past life start to come back to him. Facing the reality of who he actually is comes with responsibilities but there is only one woman who can fill the crucial gap in his life, namely Sophie. This beautiful romance speaks of the laws of attraction and although there are several reasons why both parties refuse to give way to the allure of those feelings, they do eventually come to realize that every problem does have a solution, especially when loved ones are willing to intercede on their behalf. The novel comes to a sweet and delightful conclusion leading the way to more romance in the lives of the Shadowcrest family. I received a copy of this sweet romance as a gift through Dragonblade Publishing and Netgalley and this is my honest and voluntary review.

A new series from Alexa and I cannot wait to delve more into the Strong family. This book was so much fun and I love the non-norm setting of shipyards and shipping and impressing. Got your interest yet? A woman who is her own boss and the owner of a well-off shipping business, yes!!!! I love strong women in stories. Not beotches but women who are strong and know what they want but are still loving and caring. The story takes twists and turns. I couldn’t stop while reading because I had to know what was going to happen next.

I am sure he will get his own story – Drake Andrews is totally hero material…and his love interest? I think I have it figured out but not telling.

A delicious feel good story although it starts tragically with him being abducted as a child and she was basically sold to marriage. They came out strong and independent with achievements all their own. Their love is complicated by the past coming to light as well as villains bent on satisfying their greed. At the end, they are truly Strong in name as well as character.

We start with a tragic prologue for James, who is a duke’s heir that gets abducted by sailors and forced onto a ship with limited memory of who he is. Many years later, we find that he’s the captain of a ship for a prosperous shipping line and recently landed in England for his next assignment. A drunkard who turns out to be his childhood tutor recognizes him in a tavern and insists that he’s a lord. James is pretty much shocked and surprised, but when he visits the duke’s household, he’s instantly recognized as the missing son of the duke. Meanwhile, Sophie, the owner of the shipping company is recently widowed and considering propositioning the handsome James for an affair, not knowing his newfound status or identity. James has bigger ideas (like marriage) and is actually trying to keep this all secret because he wants Sophie to accept him as a man, rather than a title. Add in the fact that James as a gaggle of sisters and cousins soon-to-debut, and we’ve got the beginnings of an interesting series.

I am always excited to get my hands on a new Alexa Aston book! I thought this was a strong first book for the series as it set up some background on the characters and featured a couple that I do really want to see in future books. I liked that Sophie was a strong independent woman who not only went after what she (initially) wanted from James but also was able to defend herself when the time came that she needed to. I liked James, mostly because he saw Sophie for the amazing woman that she was. My only real problem with the book was that everything was just too easy. James comes to terms with the truth about his background right away. James fixes the problems with his uncle stealing from the family within a few pages (I also really wanted to see the interactions between him and the solicitor and company manager but instead only get a quick summary). James gives up his life at sea and takes his place as the duke right away with no problem. Sophie gets over her anger toward James for keeping the truth about who he was a secret after a quick visit from his stepsister. It's not that I need a book filled with angst and drama, but just one hurdle that wasn't gotten over with little problem would have been nice. And it was interesting that it was completely passed over that Josiah had hired ship captains who were stealing children off the streets. He may have been a great business man but it seems he knew nothing about what his employees were doing (or just turned a blind eye to it). This was an enjoyable read, just not as good as many of Ms. Aston's previous books.

The Duke's Unexpected Love is the first book in the new series, The Strongs of Shadowcrest

James Jones doesn't remember much of his past. But he does remember he was taken and pressed into service as a young boy. He meets Drake and they form a friendship while working on ships to adulthood. James is now a captain and is returning his ship to London. As Drake and James head into a pub they run into a man that identifies James and promises to take him home to claim the life he had been taken from. When James returns to his family, he learns that his father is dying, and he will soon be the Duke of Seaton.

Sophie Grant, daughter of a viscount, did not have an ideal childhood due to her father's penchant for spending more than he has. He "sold" Sophie to Josiah Grant who teaches her all about his shipping company. With the confidence she gained from all she has learned; she is now one of the wealthiest women in England. When Captain James Jones returns to London with one of her ships, she sees in him what she never had with her husband and is determined to enter into a physical relationship with him. But when Sophie learns the truth about James Strong the duke, will her fears about losing everything dear to her keeping her from finding a truer love than she has ever known.

This was a fun and entertaining love story. It's a wonderful love story that overcomes hardships. I loved the characters and am hoping we might get to see them in the books to follow.

This is a new series started with the introduction to Jame Jones a sea Captain. When he come into port after 20 years he is recognized by the tutor he once loved. As this story unfolds The Captain is actually the heir to a dukedom. As he navigates this new life and tries to transition from one life t the next things get very complicated and very clear at the same time.
I immensely enjoyed this book and look forward to seeing the rest of the family find their happily ever after. The interactions between the older brother an the younger siblings and wards is something that every family should aspire to minimally.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with guidelines.

I wanted to like this book better. The characters are different from the traditional Regency romance. The heroine is a skilled businesswoman and the hero is heir to a dukedom, but has forgotten his history. He was kidnapped and beaten so badly that he forgot everything. It was an interesting set-up, but things are wrapped up rather easily. He finds out who he is and remembers everything his first night back. He routs the evil uncle and cousin and takes leadership of his family. There is a little tension about whether the heroine will trust him enough to risk losing the company her first husband left her, but that also gets wrapped up quickly.

I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader copy of this book that I received from Netgalley; however, the opinions are my own and I did not receive any compensation for my review.

I got this arc for review on netgally.

I liked the heroines back story, about her first husband and that she ruins the ship bussniess. It was nice to see that in a historic setting and the hero's back story was interesting too. Not perhaps my favorite couple but really enjoyed the story and it wasn't all about romance.

James, a Duke’s son is kidnapped as a child and raised on a ship. He is now a captain and also has a chance to reconnect with his family, changing his future entirely. Sophie married an older man and has done everything to learn about his shipping empire. James and Sophie cross paths and both of them want to take a second look…

My heart broke for James immediately. We saw him as a boy get kidnapped and meet him again as a man. I liked Sophie from
The beginning. I wanted her to experience life in anyway she wanted. I was rooting for these two.

And that’s all we can ask for. A compelling love story with characters we want to root for. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

Ships, Dukes, Family, Romance:
To be honest the cover did not entice me to read this book, but I like the fact that a strong woman was defying the ton and the characters sounded very interesting, which they were.
Well, I am so glad I decided to read this exciting all-encompassing story that is filled to the brim with a charming romance.
We first meet James the Dukes young son. James hasn't had a happy childhood and is looking forward to going away to school.
That's about the time where his life changes and I had a big 'Oh No' heart pounding moment. 
We jump forward many years into the future where we meet Sophie a wonderful strong-minded girl who is running the shipyard which in those days is unheard of.
The story revolves around the shipping industry which was a nice change from the typical ton balls and such.
This is where the romance part between James and Sophie begins, and a wonderful story it is.
There are many teeth clinching, shocking, scary, jaw dropping situations, plus a few lessons to learn before they reach their very happy ending.
I am so glad I pick this book up and read it. It is really a good story.

This was a good read. I liked both the hero and heroine. Completely off topic: I loved reading about the shipping/ ship building. im So relieved to read a book that doesnt primarily take place in London especially a London Ballroom. Llots of subplots and very original story. I thought the conflict was resolved and that both the hero and heroine seemed authentic.
The young bride married to older husband a little ick... but overall cute story.

I enjoyed this book. It was easy to read with good flow. The characters were great especially the 2 main characters; Sophie was a widow who had been sold by her father to an elderly rich businessman. James was a Duke’s heir that had been pressed into service on a ship at the age of eight. There was plenty that can happen with these 2 characters that made for interesting reading.

Kidnapped to work on a ship as a young boy, James remembers little of his past. After working his way up to ship’s captain he goes to his boss’s widow for his next assignment. Young widow, Sophie, knows everything about running her elderly deceased husband’s business. Sparks fly when they meet. James must first find out if he truly is about to become a duke, whose family own’s Sophie’s competition, before he starts something with Sophie. They must trust each other before they can commit. I received an ARC from NetGalley and Dragonblade Publishing for my honest review.

I had a lot of fun reading this one. I love how the main female character had a friendship with her older husband and it wasn’t anything gross or abusive. It made her stronger and she was able to rise above in her station in strength. I loved the uniqueness of the characters, however I was annoyed at the uncle and bleeding the estate dry, because I think that is overdone. But besides that, it was a fun read!

I enjoyed reading this book, but didn't get the ending that I thought it deserved. In the end Sophie did not trust James enough to love her and do right by her. She had to have it in writing that she would stay in control of her shipping company. James gave up so much and lost even more. He was willing to do anything to marry her. It ruined the story for me.

When I saw the cover, and then the title, it was a no-brainer for me. Instant gratification for my regency romance addiction. I devoured this story, enjoying every second of the experience, sighing with satisfaction as I turned the final page.

An amazing book to start a new series . James the heir of Duke Seaton when was 8 has been kidnapped and been put in a ship to work . Now after almost twenty years he retyrns to England as the Captain of Vesta . When he meets his employer Mrs.Grant he is smitten . Sophie daughter of a Viscount at 18 she married a man 35 years older that her father made her because of his gambling depts . Her husband tought her everything about his shiping empire . Sophie when she sees James is suddenly aware of her needs and want to ask him to start an affair . But will she love him as James the Captian or James the Duke now that his father passed and he must take upon the role of the Duke ? Sophie will she want to marry a man so she can lose the fortune her first husband created ?
I received this book from netgalley and the publicer as an ARC . Thank you . All thoughts and opinions are my own .

This is a fun, entertaining read. James and Sophie are interesting, entertaining, complex, relatable, intriguing characters. James is my new book boyfriend, yum. Sophie is a woman ahead of her time and I love that. They are a good match. I enjoyed their romance and the path they took to get to their HEA. The various secondary characters added to the fabric of the story. I love that this series is about a family and am looking forward to getting to see all of these characters in the remaining books in the series. This is a good start to a new series. The story is easy to read and get into.

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