Pure Jonel ~ Confessions of a Bibliophile: Just Once box set by Elizabeth Boyce

By: Unknown on Thursday, August 14, 2014

Title: Just Once
Series: Once a... #1-3
Author: Elizabeth Boyce
Published: June 30/14 by Crimson Romance
Length: 918pgs
Format: paperback
Genre: historical romance
Shelf: review
Rating: ★★★★★

Synopsis from Goodreads:

What’s better than a bestselling novel? Three for less than the price of one! Elizabeth Boyce's bestselling Regency trilogy is now available in a limited-time collection at great savings. Enjoy this heartwarming historical saga from a fresh new voice in romance.

Once a Duchess: Isabelle Lockwood, a former duchess accused of adultery and disgraced with a divorce, must face her biggest nemesis to clear her name and start her life again: her former husband, Marshall Lockwood, Duke of Monthwaite, who is beginning to realize he may have made a mistake when he broke her heart. Can two former spouses find their way past the accusations and distrust to reunite?

Once an Heiress: Every scheming leech in London desires Lily Bachman's hand--and dowry--in marriage, including handsome rogue Ethan Helling. The Viscount Thorburn's gaming debts leave him eying her fortune. But when the seducer becomes the seduced and a hasty marriage follows, this stubborn couple will learn the true value of love.

Once an Innocent: When his Foreign Office superiors discover a network of French agents near his country home, spy Jordan Atherton quickly devises a house party scheme to cover the influx of his men hunting the enemy. His plea to the Duke of Monthwaite for help in the form of female guests yields Lady Naomi Lockwood, Monthwaite’s younger sister. The trouble is, Naomi soon realizes things are amiss at the estate, and she wants answers. Isolated in a game of intrigue, can they afford to fall in love?

My Review:

What a breathtakingly charming series! Boyce takes you back in time with her fantastic tales where the heroines do what’s least expected of them, without actually breaking out of the bounds dictated by proper society.

In Once a Duchess Boyce tugs at your heart with a remarkably well developed story, taking you back in time and stealing your heart. She does it again with Once an Heiress, painting a vividly realistic portrait of the lives of her unforgettable characters. Boyce rounds it out nicely in Once an Innocent where the unthinkably becomes possible. All three of these stories are tales you won’t be able to put down. I read all three in little more than a single sitting.

Boyce develops the theme of love against the odds in three very different ways in this series. Each novel is strikingly unique and unforgettable in its own right. I would highly recommend it to all lovers of historical romance.

Title: Once a Duchess
Series: Once A... #1
Author: Elizabeth Boyce
Published: January 1/14 by Crimson Romance
Length: 296pgs
Format: paperback
Genre: historical romance
Shelf: review
Rating: ★★★★★

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Isabelle Lockwood was a duchess, until her husband of only a few months wrongfully divorced her for adultery. Since then she's been a pariah, living in anonymous exile to escape the prying eyes and wagging tongues of the town. More than anything, Isabelle longs for a family of her own, and so has to marry again. But society is ruthlessly unforgiving. To clear her name, Isabelle must face down her past - and the man who broke her heart and ruined her completely.

Marshall Lockwood, Duke of Monthwaite, was blindsided by his young bride's infidelity. After the divorce Marshall licked his wounds, throwing himself into his botanical studies to forget his disastrous marriage. Now his former wife is back in Town, as beautiful and enticing as he remembers. As the Season throws them together again, Marshall can't shake the feeling that Isabelle might not be the adulteress he took her for.

My Review:

Boyce’s well written, well edited novel takes centre stage with a great deal of style. She kept me captivated throughout, transporting me back in time. The story and setting was so intricately developed that the world around me dropped away, and I was left firmly in 19th century London ton.

The characters in this novel were remarkable. I thoroughly enjoyed how Boyce delves into the lives of the main characters, both in the past and the present. The in-depth character development allows the reader to fully grasp the situations in which the characters find themselves. Boyce shows her readers both what is expected of her characters due to social norms and what they want and/or need to be themselves. The contradictions make for an intriguing look at live during the time period in question.

What a fantastically romantic tale. Boyce combines family intrigue with suspense and two main characters who truly love one another (even if they can’t see it themselves) to create a novel you won’t be able to put down!

Title: Once an Heiress
Series: Once a... #2
Author: Elizabeth Boyce
Published: March 11/13 by Crimson Romance
Length: 332pgs
Format: paperback
Genre: historical romance
Shelf: review
Rating: ★★★★★

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Lily Bachman has the largest dowry the haut ton has seen in years. Her fortune is meant to secure her marriage to a titled gentleman, but instead it has sent every fortune hunter in London into a frenzy. Despite her father’s insistence that she choose a husband, Lily swears she won’t marry any of these “Leeches.” Instead, she focuses on her dreams of opening a charity school. She has everything well in hand – until a devilishly handsome rake sweeps her into a scandalous waltz.

Ethan Helling, Viscount Thorburn, never claimed to be a good man. A well-known rogue, he’s over his ears in gaming debts and is tempted by a friend’s demanding mistress. To continue indulging his appetites, he needs to marry a fortune. The lovely Miss Bachman just so happens to have one, and Ethan vows to win her dowry for himself.

When the seducer becomes the seduced, Lily and Ethan are forced into a hasty marriage. Now, to gain her fortune, Ethan must find a way to make his unwilling bride happy. As he fights to win her affection, Ethan finds himself falling in love with his spirited wife – despite her determination to keep her money, and her heart, out of his hands. With her dreams in ruins and her illusions shattered, can Lily afford to gamble on love?

My Review:

If I thought I was in love with this author’s work with the first novel in this series I was sorely mistaken. She has outdone herself by half again this time. What a fabulous story! Boyce’s unique brank of sass and romance really brings out the best of the time period she takes you back to. The mix of periodesque colloquialisms and narratives complete the transition for the reader. There is an inherent undertone of comedy running underneath this romance of misunderstandings and disappointments.

The characters were so real and lifelike that I couldn’t help but fall for them. The main characters definitely pulled at my heart, if in very different manners. Boyce’s development of both their thoughts and emotions allows readers to see the innermost workings of the story. The ensuing comedy of errors and miscommunications had me giggling throughout. The supporting characters were quite charming as well. They rounded out the story well, giving you a sneak peek at what’s to come for this group In the future.

As a whole this was a fantastic story that I couldn’t put down for a second. This amazing author has done a phenomenal job on both the time period and the story as a whole.

Title: Once an Innocent
Series: Once a... #3

Author: Elizabeth Boyce
Published: January 31/14 by Crimson Romance
Length: 290pgs
Format: paperback
Genre: hictorical romance
Shelf: review
Rating: ★★★★★

Synopsis from Goodreads:

Jordan Atherton, Viscount Freese, returned from the Peninsular War scarred and ready to live as a dissolute bachelor. Society knows nothing of his secret occupation or of the obligation binding him to Lintern Abbey, the estate he loathes. When his Foreign Office superiors discover a network of French agents near his country home, Jordan quickly devises a house party scheme to cover the influx of his men hunting the enemy. With no time to lose and political stability hanging in the balance, Jordan turns to his friend, the Duke of Monthwaite, for help. Would the duke be so kind as to loan Jordan some ladies to populate his party?

Lady Naomi Lockwood, Monthwaite's younger sister, is snatched from her warm, secure world when she's suddenly forced to go to Lintern Abbey, despite her pleas to stay home. Stunned by her family's abandonment, Naomi and her aunt travel to the Yorkshire home of the handsome and enigmatic Jordan Atherton.

There, Naomi soon realizes this house party is not all it seems. The estate is neglected by its master, as is Jordan's ward, a mysterious Spanish orphan. When Naomi demands answers, Jordan distracts her by indulging their mutual attraction. With danger drawing closer and her family far away, Naomi must stand on her own to uncover the truth and protect the home and people she's coming to love - including the maddening Lord Freese.

My Review:

Boyce returns to this brilliant series with yet another tale you won’t be able to put down. She mixes suspense with romance, and some rakish actions to create the ultimate story of love against the odds. Her seamless storytelling with wrap you up in a world so unlike anything that we live today. The picturesque scenery in this novel allows you to travel across England alongside the characters.

The main couple in this novel may just be my favourite in this series yet. Combining a loyal yet headstrong heroine with an honest to goodness secret hero gives her readers a couple that will stand the test of time. Each is quite well developed individually, allowing you to understand where they are coming from. At the same time, you can see them coming together, becoming a unit that works well together. Boyce also backs this up with a very memorable supporting cast, drawing you in and allowing you to feel like part of this large, extended family.

Boyce has definitely outdone herself here. This novel is the perfect escape from the everyday, complete with a love that will span the ages.

Thursday, August 14, 2014

Just Once box set by Elizabeth Boyce

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